What happened
On 29 January 2014, a Piper PA-31, registration VHOFF, was being prepared for a private flight from the Aldinga aeroplane landing area to Kangaroo Island, South Australia. During the initial fuel checks, the pilot adjusted the fuel selectors from the main tanks to the auxiliary tanks to verify quantities. However, the pilot failed to return the selectors to the main tank position after this check.
Following a pre-flight inspection and loading, the pilot and one passenger boarded the aircraft. The pilot elected to depart using runway 03, choosing this runway over runway 14 to ensure a suitable emergency landing area was available. After completing engine and propeller checks, the pilot commenced the takeoff roll. As the aircraft passed the intersection of runways 14 and 03 and reached rotation speed, both engines began to surge and power fluctuated, causing the aircraft to yaw significantly.
In an attempt to troubleshoot the issue at a safer altitude, the pilot retracted the landing gear. However, at approximately 50 feet above ground level, it became apparent that the aircraft lacked sufficient performance to continue. The pilot executed an emergency landing in a nearby area, maintaining a safe airspeed. The aircraft made contact with the ground facing north-easterly and slid approximately 75 to 100 metres before coming to a stop. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported following the incident.
Findings
- The pilot failed to return the fuel selector levers to the main tank position after checking the auxiliary fuel levels, which led to the engine power fluctuations and surging during the takeoff phase.