N4854T

On August 3, 1994, at 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32- 300, N4854T, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Richmond, Missouri. The private pilot received minor injuries, one of the three passengers aboard the airplane also received minor injuries, the other two passengers received serious injuries. The business flight originated at the Trenton Municipal Airport, Trenton, Missouri, with an intended destination of Lee's Summit, Missouri.

A VFR flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The pilot stated the engine lost power while in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl. He attempted a restart without success. He said that in the process of trying to avoid some telephone lines on short final during the forced landing, the airplane stalled about 50 feet in the air, and hit the ground very hard.

Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who inspected the airplane and engine reported there was no fuel in the fuel distribution manifold (spider). The engine examination found no mechanical reason for malfunction. The fuel selector was positioned half-way between the left main fuel tank, and the left tip fuel tank.

The fuel quantities found in the tanks were:

Left main one-half full Left tip torn off airplane during landing Right main full Right tip empty