ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 286395
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| Date: | Monday 14 December 2009 |
| Time: | 16:15 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-22-160 |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | N9547D |
| MSN: | 22-6464 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2170 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320 SERIES |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | San Jose, California -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | San Jose-Reid-Hillview Airport, CA (RHV/KRHV) |
| San Jose-Reid-Hillview Airport, CA (RHV/KRHV) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The airplane climbed to about 600 feet above ground level after takeoff and the engine experienced a loss of power. With unfavorable conditions ahead, the pilot opted to turn 180 degrees back toward the airport. The airplane touched down on wet, muddy grass and began to roll onto the asphalt. The airplane nosed over after encountering the lip of the asphalt. A mechanic took fuel samples from the fuel tanks as part of a postimpact inspection. Samples of fuel from the left wing tank, which was selected at the time of the accident, revealed that there was a significant amount of water present. The mechanic opined that the left tank's lower tank panel had possibly bowed up, causing water to be trapped around the sides of the tank. The pilot reported that he did drain fuel from the tanks prior to departure, but that he should have also shaken the wings to induce the trapped water to move down to the sump drains, then rechecked the fuel for contamination.
Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR10LA083
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Oct-2022 10:08 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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