Flight History
On 19 October 2016, a Piper PA28-161 Warrior II, registration PK-PBH, operated by Perkasa Flying School, was on a dual flight training touch and go exercise at Tunggul Wulung Airport (WAHL) in Cilacap, Indonesia. The aircraft was crewed by an instructor pilot and a student pilot. Several days before the accident, the student pilot had injured his left hand wrist but did not report the injury to the flying school or the instructor.
At 0730 local time (0030 UTC), the student pilot conducted a pre-flight inspection and reported the aircraft normal, with approximately 190 liters of fuel. At 0831 LT, the aircraft lined up and took off from runway 31. After reaching about 300 feet, the instructor pilot noticed the engine sound spooling down. The instructor advanced the throttle, but the engine RPM did not increase. The instructor then reached for the fuel selector valve intending to change its position, but the engine RPM continued to decrease and the engine quit.
The instructor pilot took control of the aircraft, declared a mayday due to engine failure, and decided to conduct a forced landing on an open area. The controller observed the aircraft turn right until it disappeared behind trees.
Aircraft and Wreckage
The aircraft was found in a paddy field in Jeruk Legi Village, Cilacap. Examination of the wreckage revealed damage to the left wing and the nose section. The flap selector was found in a certain position, and the flaps were extended. The cockpit instruments were intact. The fuel selector was found in a position that was not fully aligned with the designated positions. The propeller blade showed a bend, consistent with a low-RPM impact.
Engine and Fuel System Examination
Engine examination showed the carburetor and carburetor heater were present. The exposed fuel pump and pistons were examined. A test run was conducted to evaluate the fuel selector positions. The fuel selector was found to have been in a dedicated improper position, which could restrict fuel flow. The engine failure was consistent with fuel starvation due to the fuel selector not being correctly positioned.
Checklist and Student Injury
The Perkasa Flying School checklists required the fuel selector to be moved to the right tank during the before-takeoff checks. The student pilot's left hand wrist injury impaired his ability to operate the fuel selector as required. The normal checklist and training procedures were reviewed as part of the investigation.
Injuries and Damage
No injuries to persons were reported. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Meteorological Information
Weather conditions at the time were not detailed in the report but included satellite imagery showing cloud cover.