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Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative: The 1932 Morane Saulnier MS.315E D2 aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on a beach in Sidmouth Devon following in flight engine failure. The aircraft was returning to Branscombe airfield, Devon from a fly-in at Bodmin, Cornwall. The wind was light and variable, and visibility in flight was good. At a height of approximately 1,200 feet, whilst flying a short distance off the coast near Sidmouth, the engine lost power. The terrain inland was undulating and crossed by hedges and wires, so the pilot determined that the most favourable option for a forced landing was an adjacent south-facing beach.
The pilot reported that the long straight beach appeared clear of people and easily within gliding distance. Approaching the western end of the beach he noticed several bystanders watching from the water’s edge and positioned the aircraft to avoid them, landing in a short distance on the surface of pebbles and sand. The pilot and passenger disembarked unaided and without injury, and pushed the largely undamaged aircraft above the high tide mark with the assistance of those present. Emergency responders attended later. When inspected afterwards the aircraft’s fuel tank contained approximately two litres of fuel.
Conclusion: The engine lost power when no useable fuel remained in the tank. Fuel consumption was significantly greater than expected because the primer return spring was not connected, allowing the primer to continue operating. The pilot completed a successful forced landing because his training and practice enabled him to identify a suitable landing site within the gliding capability of the aircraft.
A Morane Saulnier MS.315E D2 vintage plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Jacob’s Ladder Beach, Sidmouth, Devon, UK, following an engine failure. https://t.co/P4OtIQup75 via @YouTube
🇬🇧 UK - A 1930s plane was forced to carry out an emergency landing on Sidmouth beach on may 5 due to a shortage of fuel, an AAIB report has revealed.https://t.co/aXMZ2GoscVpic.twitter.com/YcxGCbDf31