So...... the first indication is the loss of power. Not an unbalanced reduction in fuel contents being picked up on a FREDA check or during the tank changes at regular intervals?
Fuel pissing out at 3 Litres a minute.... 10 minute checks.... anticipated use and endurance...........
This looks like it's not
entirely down to the engineers.
PIPER PA28 LYCOMING
320 FAMILY
Cruise Lockerbie 24/03/2014 201403530
PAN declared due to sudden loss of power. Aircraft diverted.
Aircraft called Scottish Information in vicinity of DCS at 1805z requesting a Basic Service. Aircraft at level 4500 feet routing Lockerbie, Lanark for Fife with 2 POB. Confirmed Basic Service and gave squawk of 7401. Aircraft called next at 1818z position, east > Lockerbie, declaring a Pan (as a result of a sudden drop in power) and stated intention was to divert into Carlisle Airport. Pilot informed me that aircraft had regained power but he would divert to Carlisle anyway. I contacted D&D who requested that I maintain "operational control", I also informed Carlisle that aircraft inbound as a result of Pan and passed details. Carlisle gave me a squawk of 4677 for aircraft, which I passed on to pilot. I also informed Watch Supervisor as to incident. I contacted aircraft again at 1828 (17 miles to run to EGNC) and at 1835 (aircraft 8 miles to run to EGNC) at this time, pilot requested change to Carlisle Frequency of 123.6. I informed Fife airfield that aircraft was diverting into Carlisle. Carlisle informed me that aircraft landed safely
at 1843z.I informed D&D and Operational Supervisor.
Supplementary 24.03.14:
Aircraft lands 18:42. Fuel was observed to be leaking from a fractured fuel pipe. At a rate of 3 litres per minute, according to an engineer.
Supplementary 29.03.14:
AIRCRAFT WAS FUELLED TO FULL TANKS AT FIFE AIRFIELD AND CONFIRMED VISUALLY. FLIGHT TIME WAS 2 HOURS 13 MINS. FUEL
WAS LEANED IN THE CRUISE AS PER PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, AND TANKS CHANGED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. PRIOR TO
DEPARTURE FOR RETURN LEG, BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE VISUALLY CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE JUST BELOW "TABS". THIS
CORRELATED WITH THE EXPECTED LEVEL AND PROVIDED AN ESTIMATED ENDURANCE OF 3 TO 3 HOURS 30 MINUTES FOR A
CALCULATED TRIP OF 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES. APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT, WITH MIXTURE LEANED, THE ENGINE FELL
SILENT, PROPELLOR STARTED TO SLOW AND THE RPM SUDDENLY DROPPED. PIC SELECTED MIXTURE RICH, FUEL PUMP ON, AND
CHANGED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TANK. POWER WAS IMMEDIATELY RESTORED, CARB HEAT WAS SELECTED ON WITH NO ROUGH
RUNNING EXPERIENCED. PASSENGER (A QUALIFIED PILOT) ASSISTED WITH RADIO CALLS AND DECLARED A PAN. A DIVERTION WAS
INITIATED TO NEAREST AIRPORT (CARLISLE). AT CARLISLE, FUEL TANKS WERE VISUALLY CHECKED AND NO FUEL WAS VISIBLE IN
EITHER TANK.
Supplementary 28.04.14:
Aircraft was brought into our facility and remaining fuel removed from aircraft. The left tank was completely empty the right tank contained 7.4 ltrs of fuel remaining. As instructed by the owners we're fuelled the aircraft to "Tabs" in total 140 ltrs. On engaging the electric pump we immediately
noticed the suspected fuel leak on the fuel pressure indicating line at the point of a severe bend in said fuel line.