AO-2006-006

On Saturday 2 December 2006, Partenavia P68B ZK-MYF, a light twin-engine aeroplane, was being flown on a cross-country training flight from Napier to Palmerston North, when it had a power loss near Waipukurau. The instructor completed a forced landing into a paddock resulting in moderate damage to the aircraft. There were no injuries.

The power loss was caused by fuel starvation to the left engine. The instructor should have been able to recover from the situation and make a safe landing at an alternative aerodrome. However, evidence indicated that his actions contributed to a partial power loss of the right engine, after which a forced landing became inevitable.

The investigation identified that the instructor’s minimal experience on the aircraft, combined with inadequate fuel management procedures, contributed to the aircraft departing Napier with less than the minimum required fuel on board. They also influenced the instructor’s actions once the initial power loss occurred. Safety recommendations were made to the Director of Civil Aviation to address these issues.