What happened
On 13 June 2005, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registration G-JANG, departed Swansea Airport at 0846 hrs for a planned flight to Exeter. The pilot, flying a private mission, had recently completed a flight to Kerry and had topped up the aircraft's fuel to a total of 160 litres prior to departure. During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot had confirmed that the fuel drains were clear and no defects were noted.
Shortly after takeoff from Runway 28, while the aircraft was climbing through 1500 feet and heading east toward Mumbles Head, the engine suffered a total loss of power. The pilot immediately lowered the aircraft's nose and issued a MAYDAY call. Despite attempts to restart the engine, the failure persisted. As the aircraft descended below 1,000 feet, the pilot assessed the surrounding terrain. Noting that populated areas were to the left and that suitable fields were outside the gliding range, the pilot identified nearby beaches occupied by people and decided to ditch the aircraft in the water.
The pilot successfully executed a downwind landing on the surface of Swansea Bay, approximately half a mile from a Coast Guard station. Following the impact, the pilot exited the aircraft and used both his personal life jacket and a spare to maintain flotation. A fishing vessel arrived promptly to provide assistance. While the aircraft was destroyed and subsequently sank in approximately 6.5 metres of water, the pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent ditching. Investigators reviewed fuel samples taken from the Swansea supply, which appeared visually clear, and noted that no other aircraft operating from the airport had reported similar issues. The pilot expressed his belief that a malfunction within the fuel system had triggered the loss of power.
Due to warnings from the Coast Guard regarding strong local currents that threatened to move or break up the wreckage, the decision was made not to attempt a recovery of the aircraft for a detailed mechanical examination.