What happened
On 22 July 2003, a Gardan GY80-180 Horizon, registration G-AWAC, was conducting a private flight from Popham toward Compton Abbas Airfield. During the initial approach to the grass runway, the aircraft ballooned during the flare, prompting the pilot to perform a go-around. A subsequent attempt to land resulted in the aircraft bouncing on the runway, leading to a second go-around.
While the aircraft was on the downwind leg of the third approach, the engine ceased operation. The pilot successfully executed a wheels-up forced landing into a grass field near Semley. While there were two minor injuries among the passengers, the pilot remained uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it beyond economic repair.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sudden loss of engine power. Upon inspecting the aircraft's fuel tanks, investigators discovered they were entirely empty. A physical examination of the fuel system revealed that the fuel drain cap and its associated spring mechanism were missing from the assembly. Despite searches conducted at both the landing site and Compton Abbas Airfield, these components could not be recovered. Notably, both the pilot and one passenger remembered the fuel drain being correctly positioned during the pre-flight inspections.