What happened
On 18 May 2003, a Piper PA-31 Navajo, registration G-ILEA, departed Canouan for Barbados as a private flight. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and one passenger. After entering Barbados airspace, radar tracking indicated the aircraft deviated from its direct easterly course and began a series of descents, eventually leveling off at approximately 2,300 feet.
At 2038 hrs, the crew of a commercial aircraft flying from Grenada to Barbados relayed a MAYDAY call from G-ILEA. The relayed message stated that the pilot had lost one engine and appeared to be losing fuel, expressing doubt that the destination could be reached. A subsequent transmission from the pilot of the Navajo was intercepted, stating that he would have to ditch the aircraft. The final radar contact occurred at 2043 hrs, showing the aircraft at 60 and 600 feet altitude. Despite an intensive 74-hour search and rescue operation involving multiple international vessels and aircraft, no wreckage or occupants were located.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's fuel status and the sequence of the descent. While the aircraft's flight logs were lost, investigators reconciled fuel receipts and flight times. This analysis suggested that the aircraft's fuel reserves were critically low; at best, the flight was short of the required fuel for the trip, and at worst, the aircraft may have suffered total fuel exhaustion.
Investigators also examined the aircraft's maintenance history, noting that the fuel drains had recently been replaced due to corrosion and that significant amounts of water had been found in the tanks during previous servicing. The investigation also looked into the pilot's flight planning habits and the lack of a specific ditching checklist in the aircraft's Pilot Operating Handbook.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating with critically low fuel reserves, which may have been insufficient to complete the flight to Barbados.
- The pilot's assessment of losing fuel may have been based on the perceived rate of change in the fuel gauges.
- The aircraft's descent and deviation from the direct track were likely indicative of the loss of at least one engine.
- The lack of a specific ditching checklist in the Pilot Operating Handbook may have impacted the crew's emergency procedures.
Safety action
- It is recommended that New Piper Aircraft Ltd develop advice and checklists regarding ditching for inclusion in the Aircraft Flight Manuals and Pilot Operating Handbooks for the PA-31 and other Piper aircraft types.