What happened
On December 2, 2001, a Jodel D 113 amateur-built aircraft, registration F-PJDP, was engaged in a pleasure flight from Grenoble le Versoud to Annecy. During the flight, the pilot encountered unfavorable weather conditions near Chambéry and diverted to Albertville, where the aircraft made a 40-minute stop.
While en route from Albertville back to the home aerodrome, the aircraft was cruising at approximately 3,000 feet, about ten kilometers from Grenoble le Versoud, when the engine stopped. Believing the failure was due to carburetor icing, the pilot informed air traffic control of his intention to land on a nearby highway. Following the controller's recommendation to avoid heavy traffic, the pilot attempted to land in a field. During the final approach, the pilot spotted and successfully maneuvered to avoid power lines at the edge of the field. However, upon touchdown, the aircraft pitched forward and came to rest on its back, causing damage to the airframe and one injury to a passenger.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the cause of the engine failure and the pilot's management of the fuel system. Post-accident inspections revealed that the fuel selector was set to the forward tank, which was empty. Calculations based on fuel consumption since the last refueling, combined with ground observations, indicated that the rear tank, which had a capacity of 55 liters, still contained approximately 45 liters of fuel.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was inadequate fuel management.
- The pilot's attention had been focused on the fuel gauge for the rear tank, which still contained fuel, leading to a failure to switch tanks.
- During attempts to restart the engine in flight, the pilot did not perform a fuel selector change.
- The pilot noted that fuel gauges on other Jodel aircraft models are configured differently, which may have contributed to the error.