Overview
On 22 July 1999 at 1732 hours UTC, a Piper PA-28-140, registration G-BXPL, was involved in an incident at Bournemouth International Airport. The aircraft was manufactured in 1968 and powered by a single Lycoming IO-320-E2A piston engine. The flight was a private training detail conducted by a 20-year-old student pilot who held a student pilot licence with 21 hours of flying experience, all on type. The pilot was the sole occupant.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft had been refuelled to full tanks with 40 gallons of fuel on the morning of the incident and had flown for 2.6 hours prior to the student pilot beginning a solo circuit detail. After being airborne for approximately 45 minutes, while on the downwind leg for Runway 35, the pilot noticed a loss in engine RPM. He turned towards the airfield, confident that he could land on the runway. However, on short finals, it became apparent that the aircraft would not clear the boundary road or hedge. The pilot decided to turn and land in a field parallel to the road.
Upon landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to veer to the left and collide with a post and wire fence. The pilot, wearing a lap and diagonal seat belt, vacated the aircraft without injury.
Post-accident Examination
After the incident, the airfield operations director and the Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) examined the aircraft's fuel tanks. The right fuel tank contained no fuel, while a substantial amount of fuel remained in the left tank. The fuel selector was found selected to the right tank.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear, propeller, and engine cowling.