Incident Overview
On February 9, 2005, a Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-23-250 with registration OE-FFY was conducting an IFR flight from Odense (EKOD) to Vienna (LOWW). The aircraft was operated by the Niederösterreichischer Fallschirmspringer Club (NÖFSC). During the flight within the Prague Flight Information Region, the pilot reported a smell of leaking fuel and anticipated engine problems, requesting permission to divert to Prague/Ruzyně (LKPR).
Operational Details
The pilot initially experienced communication difficulties with Air Traffic Control due to radio frequency limitations. After coordinating with ACC Berlin and ACC Praha, the flight was cleared for VFR operations. At 11:23 UTC, the pilot reported the fuel odor and requested an immediate approach to LKPR. The aircraft landed on Runway 24 at 11:38 UTC with fire and rescue services standing by. No injuries were reported, and there was no damage to the aircraft.
Investigation Findings
The investigation committee, led by Ing. Stanislav Suchý, examined the fuel system and pilot actions. Post-incident inspection revealed that the fuel tanks in the right wing half were nearly empty, while the left side retained fuel. The fuel gauges indicated a significant discrepancy between the two sides. The report concluded that the fuel depletion was likely caused by an improper setting of the fuel valves and the crossfeed valve during the flight, which may have directed fuel from one side to both engines.
Conclusions
The pilot held valid qualifications and the aircraft had valid airworthiness certificates. However, the investigation noted insufficient knowledge regarding the operation of the radio equipment and fuel system controls. The probable cause was identified as an inappropriate configuration of the fuel valves and crossfeed valve, leading to uneven fuel consumption.