DGCA finds fuel system blockage caused trainer aircraft emergency

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has completed its investigation into a trainer aircraft's emergency landing in Kalaburagi in June 2023. The report found that a blockage in the fuel system's inlet valve caused the engine power loss. The incident involved a Cessna 1725 aircraft from Redbird Flight Training Academy, which lost power during a training flight. The instructor and student pilot safely executed a forced landing in an open field after multiple attempts to restart the engine failed. The investigation revealed that metal debris caused the valve blockage, but it did not originate from the high-pressure pump. The report recommended inspecting the fuel system for contamination, although no abnormalities were found during the inspection.