ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 308884
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Saturday 4 March 2023 |
| Time: | c. 14:20 |
| Type: |  Zenair CH-750 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | G-WXYZ |
| MSN: | LAA 381-15436 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2019 |
| Engine model: | Rotax 912iS |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Kingswinford, Dudley, West Midlands -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Tatenhill Airport (EGBM) |
| Thruxton Airport (EGHO) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot of Zenair CH-750 G-WXYZ had planned to fly from Tatenhill Airfield to Thruxton Airport. However, 30 minutes into the flight, he saw a red warning light illuminate on G-WXYZ’s instrument panel. Four red warning lights were fitted to G-WXYZ: two for the engine control unit (ECU), one to indicate overall health of the electrical system and one to indicate a low fuel state.
The pilot did not recall which of the four warning lights illuminated, but soon afterwards the engine stopped. He immediately selected a field in which to land and, aware of his aircraft’s limited glide performance, positively lowered the aircraft’s nose. However, G-WXYZ struck a hedgerow and the aircraft overturned, coming to rest inverted on a road (Doctor's Lane near the A449) next to the field.
The pilot, who was wearing a three-point harness, sustained only minor injuries and, after turning off the fuel and electrical system, was able to exit the aircraft unaided.
Subsequently, the UK Zenair distributor examined the wreckage and established that both fuel pumps worked, and that the ECU powered up with no anomalies. The distributor remarked that, had an ECU fault been experienced in flight, it was unlikely to have caused the engine to stop, as the ECU has two redundant control lanes. Furthermore, electrical power for the ECU is drawn from an engine-driven generator, which also has a backup, and although the battery couldn’t be tested, low battery voltage should not have caused the engine to stop.
The distributor considered that the most likely cause for the engine stoppage was fuel starvation, or a blockage in fuel flow. The distributor also noted that G-WXYZ had wing root fuel valves installed and, had these been closed, the fuel header tank for the engine would have been exhausted during the flight and the low fuel light would have illuminated.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. Wolverhampton Express & Star 4 March 2023: https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/dudley/kingswinford/2023/03/04/light-aircraft-collides-with-a449-in-kingswinford/
2. Shropshire Star 4 March 2023: https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/black-country/2023/03/04/plane-crashes-into-road-in-the-black-country---pilot-escapes-with-minor-injuries/
3. Birmingham Mail 4 March 2023: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/plane-crashes-kingswinford-public-warned-26390272#
4. Dudley News 4 March 2023: https://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/23363433.plane-crashes-road-kingswinford/
5. https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=123123
6. https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/news/staffordshire/news/
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Aug-2023 10:59 | harro | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation