Investigation number
198902532
Occurrence date
Location
Maitland
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Occurrence class
Accident
Highest injury level
None

The pilot was carrying out circuits and landings. Following a touch-and-go landing, the pilot had just reduced power at about 200 feet above ground level when the engine failed completely. The pilot turned the aircraft back towards the runway. After completing the turn, he realised he was too high and fast, with a 15 knot tailwind, to land on the runway. Sighting a paddock to his left, he made another turn back into wind toward it. The aircraft sank heavily onto the ground inside the aerodrome boundary, ran through a fence, and bounced back into the air. It then passed underneath a set of power lines, floated across the New England Highway and a second fence, and landed in the paddock, coming to rest some 365 metres from the initial touchdown marks. No fault was found with the aircraft engine or systems. The aircraft had carried sufficient but minimum fuel for the flight and it was considered that during manouevring a tank outlet may have become uncovered, resulting in fuel starvation to the engine.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Cessna Aircraft Company
Model
185
Registration
VH-RKZ
Serial number
185-1392
Operation type
Private
Departure point
Maitland NSW
Departure time
1525
Destination
Maitland NSW
Damage
Substantial