ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 25486
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| Date: | Friday 26 May 2000 |
| Time: | 20:23 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31-350 Panther II |
| Owner/operator: | Lemanair Executive AG |
| Registration: | HB-LTC |
| MSN: | 31-7952003 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Zürich Airport -
 Switzerland
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Zürich - LSZH |
| Béziers - LFMU | |
| Investigating agency: | BFU Switz. |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Aircraft PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Colemill Panther II conversion, HB-LTC arrived in Zurich on Friday 26 May 2000 at 19:10 hrs from Béziers (F) with seven passengers on board. The aircraft was then incorrectly refuelled with 100 l of JET A-1 kerosene instead of aviation gasoline (AVGAS).
The pilot took off at 20:21 hrs alone on board from runway 28 of Zurich airport in order to fly back to Geneva. Shortly after take-off, both engines failed and the aircraft crashed while attempting to turn around. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.
The accident took place on 26 May 2000 at 20:23 hrs. The Swiss air rescue service (REGA) alerted the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) at 20:30 hrs. The investigation was opened on 26 May 2000 at approx. 22:00 hrs at the site of the accident in cooperation with the rescue services and the Zurich cantonal police.
The accident is attributable to a collision with obstacles after the failure of both
engines. The two reciprocating engines failed because the aircraft was refuelled
in error with JET A-1 kerosene instead of AVGAS 100LL aviation gasoline.
The investigation established the following causal factors for the accident:
• A misunderstanding occurred when the fuel was ordered.
• The refuelling attendant concerned did not notice the fuel grade rating placards
attached to the aircraft.
• The refuelling attendant concerned did not realise that the aircraft was
equipped with reciprocating engines.
• The pilot did not notice the fuel grade rating placards on the tanker vehicle.
• The pilot did not realise the incorrect refuelling on the receipt for the fuel
provision.
The following factors allowed or favoured the occurrence of the accident:
• The delivery nozzle on the filler gun was of an outside diameter which allowed
the aircraft involved in the accident to be refuelled.
• The level of training and knowledge of the refuelling personnel concerned was
inadequate.
• The Federal Office for Civil Aviation never inspected the refuelling operation
before the accident.
• Up to the time of the accident, the Federal Office for Civil Aviation had issued
no regulations on the training of refuelling personnel, the size of delivery nozzles
and tank openings on aircraft or on the identification of filler guns and
tank openings.
The following points may have exacerbated the outcome of the accident:
• The pilot decided on an about turn which brought him onto a collision course
with obstacles.
• The retention mechanism of the safety belt was not working.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.sust.admin.ch/pdfs/AV-berichte//1767e.pdf
2. http://www.securiteaerienne.com/lemanair-executive-erreur-de-carburant-en-suisse/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 12-Nov-2010 11:38 | Alpine Flight | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 25-Jun-2015 21:49 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 04-Oct-2015 17:53 | Aerossurance | Updated [Narrative] |
| 13-Nov-2017 09:45 | TB | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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