Accident to the Piper PA32 registered N15902 on 01/12/2023 at Les Saintes - Terre-de-Haut
Collision with the surface of the water shortly after take-off
The loss of control resulted from the attempted U-turn at low height, probably following a reduction in engine power in climb, shortly after take-off.
The reason for this reduction in engine power could not be determined.
• It was therefore not possible to bring to light a possible engine failure.
• Neither was it possible to determine whether the fuel selector position (found on “right auxiliary tank”) resulted from an error in the pilot’s selection at the start of the flight or from an input made shortly after the power reduction.
Incorrect selection of the right auxiliary tank, which contained only a small amount of fuel, would have caused fuel starvation and an uncommanded reduction in engine power.
If such an error did occur, it might then be explained by several factors:
o the short legs made, which consume a low amount of fuel and do not justify frequent and systematic tank switching;
o the asymmetry in the configuration of the PA32 fuel selector, making determining which tank is actually selected more complex than with a centred left right selector;
o the various types of aeroplanes used by the pilot for his professional activity, with different tank and selector configurations.
The BEA issues one safety recommendation:
- Recommendation FRAN-2025-001 / Effective triggering of SAR phases based on the flight plan
The BEA recommends that:
- whereas take-off and landing are the phases most prone to accidents;
- whereas activation of the flight plan for uncontrolled aerodromes, when it is not possible before the flight, can be made over the FIS frequency at a height that is sufficient to allow radio contact, and closure can be made on the same frequency before landing at destination;
- whereas it is possible to close a flight plan by telephone;
- whereas ground activation of a flight plan by telephone is not provided for in the procedures of the BRIA Antilles-Guyane, contrary to the practices that may be observed in Metropolitan France;
- whereas aircraft flying under VFR can only benefit from the alerting service once their flight plan has been activated;
DSNA ensure that the ANS-AG authorises flight plan activation by telephone with the BRIA before the aircraft actually takes off, and its closure after landing.
The recommendation is being processed.
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Note: in accordance with the provisions of Article 17.3 of Regulation No 996/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation, a safety recommendation in no case creates a presumption of fault or liability in an accident, serious incident or incident. The recipients of safety recommendations report to the issuing authority in charge of safety investigations, on the measures taken or being studied for their implementation, as provided for in Article 18 of the aforementioned regulation.