Background
On 3 November 2013, at approximately 1830 hours, the duty pilot of a search and rescue organization received a request to dispatch an aircraft for a search mission. The search was for two fishermen near Les Écréhous, a group of rocks in the English Channel about 5 nautical miles northeast of Jersey. Some reports indicated the men were in a dinghy, while others suggested they were in the water. They were alive and communicating by mobile phone.
Flight Preparation
Volunteer crew members were alerted and made their way to the airport. The crew consisted of a pilot, a search director, and three observers. They donned immersion suits and life jackets. The search director obtained details of the mission. One crew member performed pre-flight preparations but did not check fuel quantities or carry out a water drain check. He later recalled informing the pilot that he had not checked the fuel. The aircraft was pulled from its hangar, and the search director briefed the crew. The pilot did not perform a formal pre-flight inspection; it was customary for the aircraft to be kept ready for flight. The technical log indicated the aircraft was serviceable, with wing tanks containing 55 US gallons each and tip tanks 18 US gallons each. The search director asked the pilot if he was willing to fly in the prevailing conditions, and the pilot agreed.
The Flight
The crew boarded. An observer with a recent Private Pilot's Licence sat in the front right seat. The pilot started the engines rapidly, but the pre-departure sequence was interrupted by a switch selection problem affecting search equipment. After resolving the issue, the pilot obtained clearance to taxi and take off. He performed engine power checks during a back-track, checking magnetos and propeller controls at 2,100 rpm, but did not use the written checklists. Takeoff was unremarkable despite a strong crosswind. The pilot climbed to 900 feet, later describing conditions as "awful" and "ghastly," with turbulence from nearby cliffs occasionally triggering the stall warner even at speeds above 100 knots. He descended to 500–600 feet, flying by reference to the artificial horizon and making constant control inputs. He did not perform normal cruise checks such as fuel flow and mixture settings due to the demanding conditions.
Engine Issues and Emergency
North of the western end of Jersey, rain and low cloud persisted, and turbulence worsened. The pilot saw red obstacle lights on a television mast. He then noticed a change in engine sound and applied carburetor heat, which was ineffective. He checked that the mixtures were fully rich. The right engine's RPM began surging. He applied full throttle and maximum RPM on both engines and initiated a climb. The observer noted the right engine's fuel pressure gauge fluctuating but did not mention it. The pilot switched on electric fuel pumps. He turned the aircraft toward Jersey and made a MAYDAY call to ATC; the search director broadcast on maritime frequency. A lifeboat already en route to Les Écréhous altered course toward the aircraft. The right engine then stopped; the pilot feathered its propeller. Shortly after, the left engine's RPM fluctuated and then stopped. The pilot trimmed for a glide toward Jersey Airport, but had limited visual references. Crew prepared for ditching or off-airport landing.
Landing and Evacuation
The automated decision height voice call-out activated at 200 feet radio height. The pilot switched on landing lights and called "brace, brace, brace." Crew responses varied as no brace position had been established in training. The pilot glimpsed green ahead, flared, and touched down. The aircraft slid downhill, through a hedge, and came to a halt when its nose lodged against a tree, causing significant airframe damage. The pilot secured the cockpit, and all occupants evacuated with some difficulty. The search director became tangled in his headset lead but freed himself. The front occupants could not open their door and exited via the search director's door. The pilot's door was opened from outside by rear observers. The crew walked to a nearby house and were assessed by an ambulance crew; none were injured. Firefighters later secured pyrotechnics and a life raft on board.
Aftermath
In a frank account, the pilot acknowledged that turning back soon after departure would have been justified given the weather conditions.