Investigation number
199603906
Occurrence date
State
Victoria
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Fuel exhaustion
Occurrence class
Accident

The aircraft was involved in spraying operations. The pilot reported that at the end of the tiird load for the day, while pulling out of the final spray run and banking to the right, the engine failed suddenly and completely. The pilot rolled the wings level and flew towards a farm track at an oblique angle. While slewing the aircraft around to the left to align it with the track, the left wing hit a wire fence. This slewed the aircraft further to the left where it ran into another fence and nosed forward hitting the propeller on the ground. When the aircraft was inspected after the accident, there was only half a litre of fuel drained from the entire fuel system. The flight time since the last refuel was consistent with fuel exhaustion. After the accident, the engine was started and ran normally.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft Corp
Model
PA-25-235
Registration
VH-SSP
Sector
Piston
Departure point
10 NM S Anakie Vic
Destination
10 NM S Anakie Vic
Damage
Substantial