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Date: | Sunday 22 May 2016 |
Time: | 17:45 |
Type: | Murphy Maverick 430 |
Owner/operator: | Private |
Registration: | G-MZJJ |
MSN: | PFA 259-13016 |
Year of manufacture: | 1998 |
Engine model: | Jabiru 2200A |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
Category: | Accident |
Location: | Shop Farm, Shop Road, Clopton, Woodbridge, Suffolk -
United Kingdom
|
Phase: | En route |
Nature: | Private |
Departure airport: | Shoreham Airport (ESH/EGKA) |
Destination airport: | Monewden Airfield, Woodbridge, Suffolk |
Investigating agency: | AAIB |
Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:Substantially damaged 22 May 2016 due to fuel exhaustion resulting in a forced landing, Shop Farm, Clopton, Suffolk: The aircraft ran out of fuel and was severely damaged while attempting an engine-off landing in a field. The two persons on board (pilot and one passenger) were uninjured. According to the following extract from the official AAIB report into the accident:
"The pilot had flown from Monewden Airfield in Suffolk to Shoreham Airport. The flight had taken 1 hour 40 minutes, and had used 25 litres of fuel, leaving 35 litres (indicated) in the 60-litre fuel tank for the return flight. In planning the return flight, the pilot used a fuel consumption of 11 litres per hour, which gave an endurance of just over three hours.
The surface wind at Shoreham was from 220 degrees at 12 knots, and the pilot calculated that the return flight would also take 1 hour 40 minutes, and require approximately 19 litres of fuel. This would leave a reserve of 16 litres of fuel, which on the planned fuel consumption would be sufficient for approximately 1 hour 25 minutes of flight.
The pilot stated that while he planned on a tail wind, the actual wind at 2,000 feet was from 120 degrees at 15 knots and “he was blown off course to the west”. Consequently, he had to back track in order to verify his position. He was then refused permission to fly through the ATZ (Air Traffic Zone) at Southend Airport, which required him to extend his flight further.
As the aircraft approached Ipswich, which is approximately 10 miles south of Monewden, there was 5 litres (indicated) of fuel remaining in the tank. The engine ran normally until approximately 2 to 3 miles from Monewden, when during the descent to circuit height, the engine suddenly cut out. The pilot did not attempt to start the engine, but instead positioned the aircraft for a field landing, during which the main landing gear struck the top of a ditch on the boundary of the field.
While the pilot and passenger were uninjured, the lower fuselage and landing gear were severely damaged. The accident flight had lasted about 2 hours 45 minutes."
=Comments by the pilot=
The pilot reported that following the accident there was approximately 2 to 3 litres of fuel remaining in the tank. He was of the opinion that as the fuel outlet pipe is situated at the rear of the tank, it is probable that the pipe became uncovered during the descent resulting in fuel starvation and the engine cutting out. The pilot stated that as soon as he realised that he was getting low on fuel, he should have diverted to one of the airfields en-route.
=AAIB Comment=
While the pilot estimated the fuel consumption as 11 litres per hour, the consumption on the outbound flight was 15 litres per hour, assuming the fuel gauge was correct. The accident flight lasted for about 2 hour 45 minutes before the engine cut out, which at 11 litres per hour would have required 30 litres of fuel with 5 litres remaining in the tank. Therefore, the fuel consumption on the accident flight was probably greater than 11 litres per hour. The pilot continued the flight beyond Ipswich with 5 litres (indicated) of fuel remaining,
without being aware of how much was unusable
=Damage sustained to airframe=
Per the AAIB report "Fuselage and landing gear badly damaged". The aircraft was repaired and returned to service
Accident investigation:
|
| |
Investigating agency: | AAIB |
Report number: | EW/G2016/05/18 |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | |
Download report: | Final report |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57ff960b40f0b6713500000c/Maverick_430_G-MZJJ_11-16.pdf 2.
https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/G-MZJJ.html 3.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/planecrazyuk/6667743407 4.
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001091538.html 5.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clopton,_Suffolk Location
Media:
Murphy Maverick 430 ‘G-MZJJ’ (c/no. PFA/259-13016, Built 1998). With the Imperial War Museum B-29A Superfortress as a backdrop, this Maverick is seen visiting Duxford airfield, Cambridgeshire 22 August 2015
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
10-Nov-2016 19:00 |
Dr.John Smith |
Added |
10-Nov-2016 19:02 |
Dr.John Smith |
Updated [Narrative] |
11-Nov-2016 13:25 |
Dr.John Smith |
Updated [Narrative] |
28-Apr-2024 15:14 |
Dr. John Smith |
Updated [Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category] |