What happened
On 26 November 2024, an instructor was conducting training operations with a student pilot in a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee aircraft. Activities involved general aircraft handling in the Parafield Airport training area, South Australia, before returning to the aerodrome for circuit operations on runway 26L.
Around 1345 local time, as the aircraft was descending through about 600 ft on final approach to the runway, the student advanced the throttle to correct the descent profile when the engine did not respond. The instructor assumed aircraft control and began troubleshooting actions while managing the descent. At about 300 ft, when it was evident that the engine would not respond, the instructor committed to an emergency landing on the grassed area to the east of runway 21L. The landing was uneventful, and the student and instructor evacuated the aircraft without injury. The aircraft was undamaged.
Examination of the aircraft’s systems after the landing found that the fuel selector was in the left tank position – being the tank that was selected before the flight commenced. On inspection, the left tank contained no usable fuel.
Aircraft information
The Piper PA-28-180 aircraft has two independent fuel tanks within the wings, which feed the engine via a ‘Left-Right-Off’ selector valve located on the cockpit left side. The quantity of fuel in each tank is indicated by dash-mounted gauges. A fuel pressure gauge is co-located with the quantity gauges.
The aircraft manufacturer’s Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) lists the following actions in the event of a loss of engine power in-flight:
- Fuel Selector – switch to another tank containing fuel
- Electric Fuel Pump – On
- Mixture – Rich
- Carburettor Heat – On
- Engine Gauges – check for an indication of the cause of Power Loss
- Primer – Check Locked
- If no fuel pressure is indicated, check tank selector position to be sure it is on a tank containing fuel.
Safety action
Following the occurrence, the operator’s Head of Operations reviewed the known details of the incident flight with all instructors, highlighting the absence of a ‘both tanks’ fuel selection on the PA-28 aircraft and reinforcing the requirement to use calculated fuel logs that are cross‑referenced against the aircraft gauges at periodic intervals during flight.
Safety message
All general aviation pilots must ensure they are fully familiar with the control and operation of the fuel system/s of the aircraft they are operating. This includes actions in the event of engine power loss at any phase of flight, where timely and appropriate responses to possible fuel flow interruptions can be critical to a safe outcome. Emergency checklists should be readily accessible and periodically reviewed to ensure pilots remain familiar with the appropriate actions in the event of fuel-related engine power loss.
About this report
Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report, and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.