AAIB Bulletin No: 4/2004
Cessna 175 Skylark · Service Bulletins
Overview
This document is an AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) bulletin detailing an incident involving a Cessna 175C Skylark aircraft, registration G-ARUZ. The bulletin provides a comprehensive account of an accident that occurred on August 3, 2003, when the aircraft experienced a forced landing due to fuel exhaustion. The report includes information about the aircraft's condition, the pilot's experience, and the circumstances leading to the incident. It serves as a critical reference for pilots and engineers, highlighting the importance of fuel management and pre-flight inspections.
- The incident involved a Cessna 175C Skylark, registration G-ARUZ.
- The aircraft experienced a forced landing due to fuel exhaustion after a prolonged wait for takeoff clearance.
- The pilot had 477 total flying hours, with 176 hours on the Cessna 175C.
- Only 7 litres of fuel were recoverable from the aircraft after the incident, confirming fuel exhaustion.
- The bulletin highlights the importance of accurate fuel management and pre-flight inspections.
Document
Source
Originally published by assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.
Document details
- Type
- Service Bulletins
- Year
- 2004
- Pages
- 2
- File size
- 76 KB
- Publisher
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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In this document
Incident Overview
The bulletin describes an incident involving the Cessna 175C Skylark, where the aircraft experienced a forced landing after the engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot had calculated sufficient fuel for the return trip but encountered delays at the destination, leading to fluctuating fuel gauge readings and eventual engine failure.
Pilot's Experience
The pilot of the aircraft held a Private Pilot's Licence and had a total of 477 flying hours, with 176 hours on the Cessna 175C. In the last 90 days, the pilot had flown 10 hours, and in the last 28 days, 2 hours.
Aircraft Damage
Post-incident inspection revealed significant damage to the aircraft, including a separated nose gear at the firewall, a large hole in the fuselage underside, and a broken carburettor. The engineer noted that the propeller was stationary and undamaged at the time of recovery.
Fuel Management Issues
The pilot reported that the left tank fuel gauge fluctuated before settling on 'empty'. After the forced landing, only 7 litres of fuel could be drained from the aircraft, indicating that the pilot had indeed run out of fuel during the flight.
Safety Recommendations
The bulletin emphasizes the need for thorough pre-flight inspections, particularly concerning fuel levels and gauge functionality, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Safety notes
- Ensure accurate fuel calculations before flight, especially after delays.
- Regularly check fuel gauge functionality during pre-flight inspections.
Full document text
1 Cessna 175C Skylark, G-ARUZ AAIB Bulletin No: 4/2004 Ref: EW/G2003/08/07 Category: 1.3 Aircraft Type and Registration: Cessna 175C Skylark, G-ARUZ No & Type of Engines: 1 Continental G0-300-E piston engine Year of Manufacture: 1961 Date & Time (UTC): 3 August 2003 at 1630 hrs Location: Membury, near Axminster, Devon Type of Flight: Private Persons on Board: Crew - 1 Passengers - 3 Injuries: Crew - None Passengers - None Nature of Damage: Nose-leg separated at firewall, large hole in fuselage underside, lower cowling severely damaged, carburettor broken off, hole in engine sump Commander's Licence: Private Pilot's Licence Commander's Age: 70 years Commander's Flying Experience: 477 hours (of which 176 were on type) Last 90 days - 10 hours Last 28 days - 2 hours Information Source: Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot. Discussion with the engineer responsible for recovery and repair of aircraft The aircraft had flown from Cardiff to Isle of Wight (Sandown). The pilot reported that before leaving Cardiff he had inspected the fuel tanks and gauges and calculated that he had sufficient fuel for the return trip. He stated, however, that it was very busy at Sandown and he had waited for a prolonged period before receiving clearance to take off for the return leg. Once airborne, he established and maintained radio contact with Bournemouth and then changed to the Dunkeswell frequency. Shortly afterwards, the left tank fuel gauge indication began fluctuating between 'half' and 'empty' before finally settling in the 'empty' position. The pilot immediately headed towards Dunkeswell, which was only a short distance away. With the airfield in sight, the engine stopped, necessitating a forced landing in a nearby field. This was carried out successfully, but the field was later reported by the pilot to be bumpy with long grass. During the landing the nose gear collapsed but all of the occupants vacated the aircraft without injury. Cessna 175C Skylark, G-ARUZ 2 The engineer who recovered the aircraft reported that it appeared to have landed successfully and run a short distance before the nose-gear encountered a ridge which caused it to collapse. The propeller appeared to have been stationary and suffered no damage. He attempted to drain fuel from the aircraft before removing the wings but was unable to obtain more than 7 litres from the total fuel system (ie from both the wings and fuselage). The pilot has concluded that he ran out of fuel.