What happened
On September 21, 2008, a privately owned Rutan Varieze (registration F-PYTV) departed Morlaix aerodrome for a local flight. At approximately 12:00, while flying at 1,500 feet near Locquire and Locquirec, the pilot declared an engine failure over the radio and announced an intention to perform an emergency landing in a field.
Following advice from another pilot in the vicinity, the commander attempted to reach the beach at Locquirec bay. During this descent, the aircraft struck a power line and collided with a residential structure's gear mechanism, causing the aircraft to capsize onto its back. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine's failure and the aircraft's fuel state. Examination of the wreckage and the Rolls Royce 0-200 engine revealed no mechanical defects prior to the accident. While both wing tanks contained fuel, investigators found that the 10-liter fuel tank located in the upper rear fuselage was selected. Because this aircraft lacks an electric fuel pump, this specific tank is typically only used for engine starts.
Analysis of the engine's consumption rate, estimated between 20 and 25 liters per hour, indicated that the engine had been running for approximately 20 to 25 minutes since the last start. This implies a total fuel consumption of roughly 6.7 to 10.4 liters, which exhausted the capacity of the selected tank.