What happened
On Sunday, June 27, 2004, at 14:40, a Safari GT BI 582 microlight, identified as 28-KJ, departed from the left runway 25 at Meaux aerodrome for a local flight. During the initial climb, the pilot noticed a decrease in engine RPM. As a result, the aircraft failed to reach its typical climb altitude, crossing the end of the runway at approximately 200 feet instead of the usual 450 feet. Although the engine power eventually stabilized, the pilot continued the flight along the departure path before performing an emergency landing in a wheat field located approximately two kilometers from the runway. There were no injuries reported following the incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the engine power fluctuation. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the vent located on the fuel tank cap was obstructed by dust. The pilot, who had owned the aircraft for two months, reported that the vent had been contaminated during a fuel tank draining procedure performed shortly after the purchase. During that maintenance task, the cap had come into contact with greasy surfaces, which allowed dust to adhere to and eventually clog the vent. Furthermore, the pilot stated that he was unaware that the fuel cap contained a ventilation feature.
Findings
- The engine power loss was caused by the obstruction of the fuel tank vent by dust.
- The obstruction occurred following a maintenance operation where the fuel cap was exposed to grease.
- The pilot lacked sufficient information regarding the specific characteristics and maintenance requirements of this aircraft component.