What happened
On 01 November 2002, a Jabiru J400, registration ZU-CTD, was conducting a private flight from East London Aerodrome toward Richards Bay. During the flight, the pilot maintained a cruise power setting of 2900 RPM. After approximately four hours of flight time, the engine ceased operation because the aircraft ran out of fuel. The pilot performed a forced landing on a beach at Mtunzini, located roughly 20nm south of Richards Bay. While there were no fatalities or injuries, the aircraft sustained damage to the engine cowling after the nose gear sank into the soft sand and subsequently collapsed.
The investigation
Investigators examined the fuel requirements and the pilot's planning for the mission. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was relatively new, having accumulated only 18.3 airframe hours. The pilot had calculated his endurance based on the information available in the flight manual, which stated a total fuel capacity of 140 litres with 95 litres of usable fuel in the wing tanks. Based on an estimated consumption of 22 litres per hour, the pilot believed the fuel on board would be sufficient for the trip.
However, the investigation revealed that the actual fuel consumption at the 2900 RPM setting was approximately 29 litres per hour. Furthermore, the investigation found that the flight manual's specifications regarding usable fuel were inaccurate; the manual was amended following the accident to reflect a higher usable fuel capacity of 124 litres. Additionally, the flight was conducted into a significant headwind of approximately 30 knots, which increased the duration of the flight.