Summary
On May 27, 2018, a Piper PA28 (N95410) was involved in an incident near Butler, KY. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation.
The pilot reported that, while enroute, the airplane's engine began to run rough and lose power. He immediately turned toward the nearest airport and slowed the airplane to 100 knots. He added that he pushed the mixture to full rich, which caused a short burst of power that lasted just a few seconds. He then pumped the throttle and applied carburetor heat, but then realized he did not have enough altitude to make the airport and began to look for an alternate landing site.
He further added, that after locating a ridge top field, he slowed the airplane to 75 knots and pulled one notch of flaps and trimmed for landing. As he lined the airplane up with the field he pulled full flaps at about 300 ft above the ground.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA307. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N95410.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while enroute, the airplane's engine began to run rough and lose power. He immediately turned toward the nearest airport and slowed the airplane to 100 knots. He added that he pushed the mixture to full rich, which caused a short burst of power that lasted just a few seconds. He then pumped the throttle and applied carburetor heat, but then realized he did not have enough altitude to make the airport and began to look for an alternate landing site.
He further added, that after locating a ridge top field, he slowed the airplane to 75 knots and pulled one notch of flaps and trimmed for landing. As he lined the airplane up with the field he pulled full flaps at about 300 ft above the ground. The touchdown was smooth and the airplane continued the landing roll in wheat that was approximately 3 ft tall. Subsequently, the right wing struck an industrial irrigation nozzle and the right wing separated from the fuselage.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and stabilator.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot added that, during the engine failure, he did not attempt to change fuel tanks from the empty right wing fuel tank, and as a recommendation to make the fuel selector check the first part of the restart procedure.
The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that, while on scene, he was able to run the engine. He added, the left tank was approximately ½ full of fuel. He switched the fuel selector to the left tank and started the engine normally. The oil pressure was fine; fuel pressure normal on both the electric pump and engine driven pump; and the magnetos checked fine.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA307