What happened
On 8 July 2005, a Cessna 560XL, registration G-WCIN, was preparing for a private passenger flight from Gibraltar to Jersey. Prior to the arrival of the refuelling service, the commander performed external checks and proceeded with flight preparations while the passengers boarded. Following the completion of refuelling, the aircraft was dispatched.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft proceeded normally until the point of rotation. At this moment, a vibration alert for the right engine became illuminated. The pilot immediately reduced power on the right engine and notified Air Traffic Control of a potential issue. The flight continued to its destination using reduced power on the affected engine. There were no injuries to the two crew members or two passengers on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's engine and the airfield environment following reports of unusual noise and vibration. An external observer at the airport had also reported hearing an unusual sound during the takeoff. During a runway inspection, investigators discovered a heavily damaged piece of red-painted metal near the rotation point.
This object was identified as the fuel filler dust cover. This component is attached to the airframe by a lightweight chain and is positioned behind an openable panel in the wing root fairing, directly in front of the right engine's leading edge.
Findings
- The detached fuel filler dust cover struck the fan of the right engine during rotation.
- The commander did not personally re-verify the security of the refuelling point after the refuelling process was completed.
- The right engine fan sustained severe damage as a result of the impact.