Engine failure leads to forced landing of training aircraft near Bologna

Casualties unknown • Località Calderara di Reno (Bologna), IT

An Agusta F.260D experienced a loss of engine power during a landing circuit, resulting in an off-field forced landing in a cornfield.

What happened

On July 29, 2004, an Agusta F.260D, registration I-ISAA, was conducting a training flight from Bologna "G. Marconi" Airport. While performing the landing circuit near runway 12, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power. After attempting to resolve the emergency to no avail, the instructor decided to perform a forced landing in a nearby agricultural field.

The aircraft struck the ground at a heading of approximately 160 degrees magnetic. After traveling about 3/0 meters, the nose gear collapsed, causing the lower portion of the aircraft's nose and engine mount to impact the terrain. The aircraft landed in a cornfield, causing damage to the crop. Both the instructor and the student pilot sustained no injuries and were able to evacuate the aircraft safely.

The investigation

The ANSV investigation focused on the engine failure and the fuel management during the flight. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right wing tank was completely empty, while other tanks contained varying amounts of fuel. The investigation also found that the carburetor bowl contained only a very small amount of fuel.

Investigators examined the aircraft's fuel system, which utilized a single instrument to monitor fuel levels. This specific configuration required the pilot to manually switch a commutator to toggle between viewing the left and right wing/tip tanks. The investigation also reviewed the flight crew's training records and the club's established checklists, which required fuel selector checks every 15 minutes during cruise.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was an engine power loss due to fuel exhaustion in the right wing tank.
  • The crew likely failed to realize the right tank was empty because the fuel level indicator commutator was set to display the left wing tanks, masking the depletion of the right side.
  • The fuel level indicator for the left wing tank was found to be inaccurate, providing a reading lower than the actual fuel volume, which may have contributed to confusion regarding total fuel availability.
  • A lack of systematic and frequent fuel consumption monitoring during the flight contributed to the event.

Probable cause

The engine failure was caused by the depletion of fuel in the right wing tank, a situation that went undetected because the fuel level indicator was set to monitor the left wing tanks, and the crew was not performing frequent enough fuel consumption checks.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2004-07-29 F.260D, accident near Località Calderara di Reno (Bologna), IT?

An Agusta F.260D experienced a loss of engine power during a landing circuit, resulting in an off-field forced landing in a cornfield.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2004-07-29 involved a F.260D,, registration I-ISAA, at Località Calderara di Reno (Bologna), IT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The engine failure was caused by the depletion of fuel in the right wing tank, a situation that went undetected because the fuel level indicator was set to monitor the left wing tanks, and the crew was not performing frequent enough fuel consumption checks.

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