No fatalities

1981-04-14: De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-FAWA) — Air BC - Air British Colombia — Fraser River, Canada

Fraser River, CanadaTakeoff (climb)

On April 14, 1981, a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (registration C-FAWA) operated by Air BC - Air British Colombia was involved in an aviation accident near Fraser River, Canada during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine failed because the fuel selector was positioned to an empty rear tank, causing fuel starvation during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781222744Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered C-FAWA
Aircraft registered C-FAWA. Photo: Ken Fielding / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft experienced an engine failure during its initial climb after departing Fraser River, leading to a collision with a pylon.

What happened

During the initial climb phase following departure from Fraser River, the aircraft's engine ceased operation. This loss of power was caused by fuel starvation. In an attempt to maneuver the plane away from a bridge, the pilot executed a steep turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft type struck a pylon, which resulted in a stall and subsequent crash.

While the accident involved a significant loss of control, there were no fatalities reported, though the pilot sustained injuries during the impact.

Findings

Investigation into the mechanical failure revealed that the fuel selector was improperly configured. Specifically, the selector was set to draw from the rear tank, which contained no usable fuel at the time of the incident. This incorrect fuel selector setting led directly to the engine's loss of power.

Probable cause

The engine failed because the fuel selector was positioned to an empty rear tank, causing fuel starvation during takeoff.