What happened
On February 1, 2004, an F22C, registration I-GEAZ, was performing a local flight from the Area 51 airpark in Mestrino, Italy, to Thiene airport for refueling. The flight was intended to last approximately eight minutes, with the pilot having measured roughly 12 liters of fuel available during pre-flight checks.
Prior to departure, several ground operations caused an unexpected increase in fuel consumption. These included an extended engine warm-up, engine testing, waiting for a passenger, and taxiing to the hold point. Additionally, the aircraft was held on the taxiway for 15 to 20 minutes due to other light aircraft traffic in the area. Shortly after takeoff, the engine failed at a very low altitude. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by manipulating the throttle, which provided only a momentary burst of power, but the engine ultimately failed. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing on a flat, muddy field with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft slid for approximately 30 to 40 meters before coming to a stop. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained significant damage to the propeller and minor damage to the right flap.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the pilot's flight planning and ground procedures. The investigation established that the fuel quantity measurement taken via a dipstick may have been inaccurate due to the aircraft's attitude on the ground. Furthermore, the investigation examined the pilot's failure to account for the increased fuel consumption caused by prolonged ground operations and the lack of consideration for fuel pump suction limitations at low fuel levels during takeoff.