What happened
On July 12, 2012, a Piper PA28, registration HB-PFE, departed from La Môle for Pézenas with two passengers. The flight was part of a series of legs that began in Geneva, including stops in Cannes and instructional maneuvers at La Môle.
During the flight, the pilot noted that the left wing tank gauge was near zero and switched to the right tank, which showed approximately 18 liters remaining. As the aircraft approached Pézenas, the pilot began to doubt the remaining fuel supply and attempted to switch back to the left tank to drain it completely. The engine began to sputter, prompting the pilot to switch back to the right tank and climb to 2,500 feet.
While established on final approach for runway 29, the pilot extended three flaps notches to correct a high glide path. At a speed of 65 knots, the engine stopped. Recognizing the fuel exhaustion, the pilot attempted to maintain flight by retracting two flaps notches and maintaining a speed of approximately 70 knots. To avoid an obstacle, the pilot pulled back on the controls, causing the airspeed to drop to 50 knots. To prevent a stall, the pilot lowered the nose and turned right, but the aircraft subsequently struck the ground in a quarry. The accident resulted in three injuries (the pilot and two passengers) and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the fuel management and flight preparation. Investigators found that while the aircraft had been fully refueled in Geneva, the total flight time had extended significantly due to previous legs and instructional maneuvers. Radar data indicated a total flight duration of approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes.
While the aircraft's manual suggests a theoretical endurance of roughly 5 hours and 20 minutes at 75% power, the actual consumption rate for this specific aircraft was estimated at approximately 40 L/h, which would provide an endurance of only about 4 hours and 30 minutes. The investigation also noted that the pilot had relied on cockpit gauges rather than verifying fuel quantities through logbook reviews or visual inspections. No mechanical failures were found in the engine during the examination.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was fuel exhaustion.
- Inadequate flight preparation and a failure to account for the impact of headwinds (20 knots) on fuel consumption.
- Improper fuel management during the flight and the decision to continue the flight despite low fuel indicators.
- Reliance on cockpit gauges alone without verifying remaining fuel through logbook data or physical inspection.
- The pilot's decision-making was influenced by an instructor's suggestion that additional refueling was unnecessary.