Cessna C 177RG OK-ONE Incident at Mostek u Chocně

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 7 November 2013, a Cessna C 177RG Cardinal, registration OK-ONE, was involved in an incident near the village of Mostek u Chocně. The aircraft, manufactured in 1971 and powered by a Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 engine, had accumulated 2,869 hours and 22 minutes by the time of the event. The pilot, a 48-year-old holder of a Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) with Single Engine Piston Land (SEPland) qualifications, was operating the aircraft for personal purposes. ## Flight Progression and Engine Failure The flight originated from Opava-Zábřeh (LKZA) with a stop at Kráľová (LZKS) before proceeding to Pardubice (LKPD). After departing Pardubice, the pilot reported irregular engine operation to air traffic control. The engine subsequently stopped completely, prompting the pilot to execute an off-field landing in a field approximately 100 meters left of road II/312 between Hemže and Mostek. The aircraft landed with the landing gear retracted, resulting in deformed propeller blades and minor damage to the lower fuselage. ## Investigation Findings and Fuel System The investigation focused on the fuel system, as the pilot had noted fuel levels at approximately one-third capacity before the final leg. Post-incident inspection revealed only 0.2 liters of fuel in the tanks and 0.4 liters from the drain valve. The fuel drain valve was found to be partially unreliable due to corrosion and deposits. Although the exact cause of the fuel exhaustion could not be definitively proven, the investigation highlighted the importance of fuel management and the reliability of fuel system components.