AO-2023-091IncidentClosed
Fuel cap departure in flight — Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
| Date | 28 November 2023 |
| Location | En route Kununurra to Wyndham, WA |
| Aircraft | VH-WDA |
| Type | Cessna 208B Grand Caravan |
| Source | Civil Aviation Safety Authority ↗ |
Summary
A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan charter flight from Kununurra to Wyndham experienced fuel venting from the right wing following departure of the right fuel filler cap in flight. The pilot diverted to Wyndham Airport and landed safely. Approximately 28 litres of fuel were lost; fuel reserves were sufficient to complete the flight. No injuries to four passengers.
Investigation Findings (4)
- 01Post-flight inspection confirmed the right tank cap retention pin was not engaged.
- 02The pre-flight fuel check was verified against the loadsheet but the cap security was not specifically confirmed.
- 03Wyndham Air updated its pre-departure fuel check procedure to require a physical tug-test of each filler cap.
- 04CASA issued a safety bulletin on fuel cap security procedures for Cessna 208 operators.
Aircraft Involved
This report is based on publicly available ATSB/CASA data and may not reflect the complete investigation findings. Refer to the official ATSB website for authoritative reports.