Fuel Exhaustion and Off-Field Landing of a Jodel D 119 at Le Cheylas (F-PMXF)

Overview and Aircraft Details On 22 April 1999 at 10:45, a Jodel D 119 with registration F-PMXF, operated by a club, experienced a fuel failure during a local flight. The aircraft was on board with the pilot and one passenger. The pilot was 44 years old, held a license from 1997, and had 140 total flight hours, including 37 hours on type and 6 hours in the preceding three months. ## Flight Circumstances The pilot departed from Grenoble Le Versoud aerodrome for a local flight. After 55 minutes of flight, while returning to the aerodrome, the pilot noticed engine misfires. Shortly thereafter, the engine stopped. Emergency actions failed to restart the engine, and the pilot decided to land in a field. During the ground roll on soft terrain, the aircraft went into a pylon and then onto its back. Both occupants exited the aircraft uninjured. ## Post-Accident Findings After the accident, the fuel selector was found in the “rear tank” position. The pilot stated that he had not operated the selector during the flight. The rear tank was found empty. Before the flight, the pilot had filled the front tank, and the rear tank gauge indicated approximately one-third full. ## Damage and Weather The accident damaged the windshield, the upper fuselage skin, and the rudder. Weather conditions at the accident site were assessed as calm wind, visibility greater than 10 km, few clouds at 1,500 feet, and scattered clouds at 5,000 feet. ## Cause The identified cause was inappropriate fuel management.