What happened
On Wednesday, April 23, 2003, a Humber Tétras microlight, identified as 46-PN, was performing a local flight near the Brive aerodrome. While descending on a long final approach for runway 32 at approximately 2,0-00 feet, the pilot experienced engine RPM fluctuations followed by a complete engine failure. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but the failure recurred. Realizing the aircraft could not reach the runway, the pilot performed an emergency landing in a nearby field. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's fuel system following the incident. Upon inspection on the ground, it was discovered that the fuel strainer bowl (bol décanteur) had become unscrewed, which interrupted the flow of fuel to the engine. The investigation noted that this specific strainer bowl does not feature a drain valve. The pilot stated that as part of a regular pre-flight inspection, they manually unscrew the bowl to check for impurities. The pilot recalled manipulating the component prior to this flight but believed they had failed to tighten it sufficiently after the check.