Piper PA-31 Navajo — Other Documents

This document is an investigation report by the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) concerning an accident involving the Piper PA-31 Navajo aircraft registered F-HGPS. The report details the circumstances surrounding the accident that occurred on August 21, 2018, during an aerial photography flight. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the flight history, pilot experience, aircraft performance, and contributing factors to the accident. The report aims to enhance aviation safety by identifying lessons learned and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

• The Piper PA-31 Navajo has a total fuel capacity of 192 US gallons, with 186 gallons usable.
• The mean endurance of the PA-31 is approximately 4 hours 30 minutes, which can increase during lower engine speed operations.
• The accident occurred due to fuel exhaustion after 5 hours and 15 minutes of flight.
• The pilot had approximately 1,250 total flight hours, with limited recent experience on the PA-31.
• The aircraft collided with trees and the ground during an emergency landing attempt.