ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 360736
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| Date: | Friday 11 March 1994 |
| Time: | 12:38 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32-260 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N3817W |
| MSN: | 32-749 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4104 hours |
| Engine model: | LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Beckley, WV -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Charleston, WV (CRW |
| Myrtle Beach, SC (CRE | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED AND CLIMBED TO 7000 FEET FOR CRUISE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING IN AND OUT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING AND MADE A FORCED LANDING, OFF AIRPORT INTO RISING TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FOUND RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK CAP AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM A CO-OWNER THAT THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WOULD SOMETIMES CONTAIN WATER. THE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN FOAMED AND EMPTIED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO ARRIVAL OF THE FAA. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND RUST COLORED WATER IN THE FUEL LINE LEADING TO THE CARBURETOR AND IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE WATER WAS CLEANED OUT AND THE ENGINE RAN SATISFACTORILY.
Probable Cause: A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION, WHILE OPERATING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AFTER THE PILOT FAILED TO REMOVE ALL THE WATER FROM THE TANK PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN LEAKING FUEL CAP.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB NYC94LA057
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 16-Mar-2024 10:39 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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