What happened
On 12 September 2010, a Blade 912, registration G-MZOR, was involved in a ditching incident in the sea near Deal, Kent. The flight, which was a private operation, began at Maypole Airfield in north Kent. The pilot initially intended to fly to Peterborough and back, but after encountering bumpy flying conditions, decided to remain in the local area. During the flight, the pilot landed at a private site near Dargate to drop off a passenger before departing again.
While flying over the sea, the engine suddenly stopped without any prior warning. Realising the aircraft could not reach land, the pilot performed a circuit around a nearby dredger to prepare for an emergency landing. The pilot slowed the aircraft to a speed of between 30 and 40 mph and executed a ditching alongside the vessel. The pilot was thrown clear of the aircraft upon impact but was rescued by the crew of the dredger and subsequently transferred to a coastguard vessel. The aircraft was destroyed, but the pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the flight duration, fuel consumption, and the circumstances leading to the engine failure. The pilot reported taking off with 45 litres of fuel and estimated a consumption rate of approximately 10 litres per hour. Based on the timeline of the flight, which lasted between approximately four and five hours, the investigation looked at the remaining fuel reserves.
Findings
- The engine stopped without any preceding mechanical issues or warnings.
- The aircraft likely ran out of fuel during the flight.
- The pilot's flight duration, combined with the estimated fuel consumption, meant the fuel supply was exhausted before the aircraft could reach land.