What happened
On 15 September 2012, a Piper PA-22-150 Caribbean, registration G-ARHN, was conducting a private flight near Popham Airfield in Hampshire. The flight involved two pilots; the first pilot was performing circuits to regain 90-day currency, while the second pilot acted as a supervisor. After completing several circuits, the aircraft approached for a final landing. During this approach, the pilots noted that the fuel level in the right tank had dropped to one-quarter capacity, prompting the selection of the left tank.
As the aircraft transitioned into a go-around, the handling pilot applied full power. However, the aircraft failed to gain altitude and began an uncommanded turn to the left. The aircraft's airspeed remained low, and the right wing dropped, leading to a stall. Shortly after the turn began, the aircraft struck treetops south of the airfield. Both occupants sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the aircraft's fuel system and the regulatory status of the crew. The aircraft used a gravity-fed system with two 15-imperial gallon tanks. While the pilots had noted sediment in a fuel sample during pre-flight, subsequent checks showed the fuel was clear. The investigation also looked into the roles of the two pilots, noting that the group's internal policy regarding pilot-in-command (PIC) responsibilities was misinterpreted by the crew.
Findings
- The aircraft was flying in a high-drag configuration due to the low airspeed during the go-around.
- The handling pilot allowed the airspeed to reduce significantly during the go-around maneuver.
- Asymmetric fuel loading, with the left tank nearly full and the right tank at one-quarter, may have contributed to the difficulty in controlling the bank angle during the low-speed turn.
- There was no evidence of significant engine power loss prior to the impact.