What happened
On the evening of January 11, 2004, a Piper PA 28-180, registration F-BUOJ, departed Cannes for Perpignan under IFR conditions. During the cruise phase at flight level 6000, the pilot became concerned about remaining fuel levels near Martigues. Following a suggestion from air traffic control, the pilot accepted a direct route over the sea toward the Perpignan VOR.
As the flight progressed, fuel gauges approached zero. After fifteen minutes of flight, the engine began to sputter. The pilot switched to the right fuel tank, estimating approximately fifteen minutes of remaining endurance. Upon contacting Perpignan Approach, the pilot expressed concerns regarding fuel levels and inquired about the proximity of Béziers. Although the controller noted Béziers was closer, the pilot elected to continue toward Perpignan.
At 18:10, the pilot informed controllers of the fear of not reaching the destination, prompting emergency services to be alerted. The controller suggested an emergency landing on a beach if the pilot maintained his heading. At 18:17, engine roughness was reported. Shortly after, at 18:22, the engine stopped completely while eight nautical miles from the coast. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching tanks, but the engine failed permanently. The pilot managed to reach the coast and performed a night landing on a beach near the Salanque area. During the landing roll, the right wing struck the water, causing the nose to bury in the sand and the aircraft to stop.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's flight planning and fuel management. It was established that the pilot had confused land miles with nautical miles when reviewing the aircraft's performance manual during pre-flight preparations. This error led to an inflated calculation of the aircraft's endurance. Additionally, the investigation looked into the refueling process performed the previous day, noting that the pilot had been interrupted during fueling and could not confirm if the tanks were full. The investigation also noted that the pilot's initial training/familiarization on this specific aircraft focused on maneuverability rather than fuel management.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was fuel exhaustion.
- The pilot incorrectly calculated the aircraft's range due to a confusion between land miles and nautical miles during flight planning.
- There was insufficient awareness of the specific fuel consumption characteristics of the Piper PA 28-180 compared to the pilot's previous experience with a different model.
- The aircraft was not equipped with the necessary gear for over-water flight.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage, including a broken nose gear, a bent propeller, and damage to the right wing.