ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 278880
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 20 December 2019 |
| Time: | 19:00 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32-260 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N4726S |
| MSN: | 32-1165 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6040 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-E4B5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Florida, Massachusetts -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Islip-Long Island MacArthur Airport, NY (ISP/KISP) |
| Rutland Airport, VT (RUT/KRUT) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that he departed on the night, cross-country flight with full fuel tanks, or 84 gallons total on board. About 1.5 hours into the flight, the engine lost all power, and a restart attempt was unsuccessful. He performed a forced landing in remote, wooded, mountainous terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; one passenger had serious injuries.
Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure of the engine. The fuel selector was found positioned on the right main tank. The right main tank was punctured, but otherwise was not breached. No fuel was found below the puncture hole. Examination of the fuel lines found that the line from the engine firewall to the fuel pump and the line from the fuel pump to the carburetor were absent of fuel. The other three tanks were damaged, and fuel staining was observed on the snow around the main wreckage.
Performance data for the airplane indicated that the engine would have consumed a fuel amount approximating the capacity of the right main tank prior to the loss of power. It is likely that the pilot exhausted the fuel in the right tank and did not switch tanks during his attempt to restore engine power.
Probable Cause: The pilot's fuel mismanagement during flight, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing in a remote, wooded terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ERA20LA057
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 05-Jun-2022 08:37 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation