What happened
On June 9, 2005, at 21:26 local time, a Piper PA 28-181 Archer, registration EC-IRJ, was conducting a private local flight near Cuatro Vientos Airport, Madrid. The aircraft was performing 45-degree turns at approximately 3,500 feet over the southern area of Valdemuster/Valdemorillo. While flying over an ultralight airfield in Villanueva de la Cañada, the engine stopped.
The pilot attempted to restore power by advancing the throttle and switching the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank. However, due to a rapid loss of altitude, the pilot determined that an emergency landing was necessary. The aircraft performed an emergency landing in a cereal field. All 4 occupants (the pilot and three passengers) were uninjured and able to exit the aircraft on their own.
The aircraft sustained only minor damage to the nose gear caused by the uneven terrain during the landing roll.
The investigation
The investigation examined the engine, fuel system, and the pilot's flight sequence. Investigators inspected the engine and found no mechanical abnormalities. Samples of fuel taken from the carburetor bowl and the firewall drain sump showed no signs of water or contamination, and the carburetor inlet filter was clean. The fuel selector was found in the right-tank position.
Analysis of the fuel consumption revealed that the aircraft had been used for several flights earlier that day, totaling approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes of flight time. Based on an estimated consumption of 33 liters per hour, the investigators calculated the remaining fuel levels. At the end of the incident flight, 50 liters were found in the right tank, while the left tank was found to be empty.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion in the left tank.
- The pilot's fuel management sequence—switching between tanks without verifying levels—led to the left tank running dry.
- The pilot's decision-making regarding fuel selection was inconsistent with standard practices for maintaining balanced weight and fuel levels.
- The low altitude at the time of the failure (approximately 1,400 feet) prevented a safe attempt to restart the engine in flight, necessitating the immediate emergency landing.