What happened
On April 23, 2003, a Piper Pa-28-181, registration OK-DEV, was conducting a VFR training flight from Budapest (LHBP) to Brno-Tuřany (LKTB). The crew, consisting of a flight instructor, a student pilot, and one passenger, was on final approach to runway 2 and encountered an engine failure.
Following the loss of power, the aircraft performed an emergency landing in a field near the village of Sokolnice, approximately 2 km southeast of the runway 28 threshold. The aircraft touched down on a field with 10 cm high crops. Despite the forced landing, the aircraft sustained no damage, and all occupants remained uninjured.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the engine failure. Investigators examined the aircraft's technical condition, the meteorological situation, and the flight preparation procedures. Upon inspection of the aircraft at the scene, investigators found that the fuel tanks were empty.
While the instructor had previously suspected a high fuel consumption rate and requested a verification of the fuel gauges, subsequent testing by a maintenance company confirmed that the fuel gauges and consumption rates were operating within manufacturer specifications. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's pre-flight procedures and the flight plan, noting that although the flight plan was approved as IFR despite being a VFR flight, this discrepancy did not contribute to the incident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was insufficient fuel reserves for the intended flight, including the required reserves, due to a failure to adhere to proper flight preparation regulations.
- The immediate cause of the engine failure was the exhaustion of fuel during flight.
- The instructor failed to verify the actual fuel quantity in the tanks prior to the flight, relying instead on an estimate based on the flight duration from the previous leg.
- Meteorological conditions were CAVOK with a 15-knot wind, which were suitable for VFR flight and did not contribute to the event.