Tecnam P2010, Temple Texas, 6/26/25

[FPK1]

N258CM was substantially damaged in an accident near Temple, Texas, during an instructional flight. The flight instructor reported an uncommanded change in manifold pressure after switching fuel tanks. Neither the instructor nor the student pilot were injured in the accident.

Accident Tecnam P2010 Mk II N258CM, Thursday 26 June 2025

On June 26, 2025, about 1130 central daylight time, a Tecnam P2010 airplane, N258CM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Temple, Texas. The flight instructo...

asn.flightsafety.org

I will certainly be watching this investigation closely...

 

[geezer]

Unfortunately sounds very much like switched to an empty tank, continued to run on fuel from the line from the selector.

Manifold pressure changes when the engine stops producing power. Proper response is undo last action, fuel tank change. Boost pump will save you if soon enough. The selector may have been the problem, failed to move all the way, or defective. Undo the last move is still the most likely to restore power.

 

[Baked Potato]

Weird.
Glad they're ok (it seems?)
I guess there's validity to my CFI's hesitance to switch fuel tanks in the pattern.
He even once made me do a full stop taxi back just to do exactly that.

 

[sourdough44]

I know it’s relatively simple, but I’m not big on switching tanks in the pattern, most aircraft. It’s just another variable to deal with. I can count a handful of accidents where it contributed.

For the most part, have it figured out by 15 miles out, leave it be.

 

[Flying Keys]

Weird.
Glad they're ok (it seems?)
I guess there's validity to my CFI's hesitance to switch fuel tanks in the pattern.
He even once made me do a full stop taxi back just to do exactly that.

Careful that you put the selector all the way into the detent. Otherwise you might use up the fuel in the lines just in time to starve the engine at 200’ AGL. I generally don’t switch tanks in the pattern or on the ground after runup. Of course if you’re burning holes in the pattern as a student, you’ll want to switch at some point, but just be extra careful.