What happened
On July 18, 2016, a SIAI-Marchetti S 208, registration OO-PLC, was conducting a VFR flight from Jindřichův Hradec (LKJH) toward Tábor (LKTA) with one passenger on board. During the flight, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. After attempting to troubleshoot the issue by switching fuel tanks and activating the electric fuel pump, the pilot declared an emergency to Prague Information.
While descending, the pilot, under significant stress, overshot the airfield. In an attempt to return to the runway at a very low altitude, the pilot performed a steep turn but failed to extend the landing gear or the flaps, fearing that the lack of engine power would prevent the aircraft from reaching the runway in time. The aircraft subsequently landed on its belly on the grass runway 30 at LKTA. The impact caused the propeller blades to bend upon contact with the ground, and the engine was forced to stop.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation focused on the fuel system, the pilot's recent experience, and the sequence of events leading to the engine power loss. Technical inspections of the SIAI-Marchetti S 208 revealed that the fuel pumps, fuel selector, and indicators were all functioning correctly. Investigators found that approximately 15 liters of fuel remained in each of the wingtip tanks, as the pilot had not switched the fuel selector to utilize these reserves.
Analysis of the flight path and fuel consumption indicated that the pilot had likely misjudged the amount of usable fuel remaining in the main tanks. The investigation also noted that the pilot had not flown this specific aircraft type recently and did not meet the requirements for recent experience when carrying a passenger.