ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 296717
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| Date: | Tuesday 27 August 2002 |
| Time: | 14:20 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-24-250 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N120S |
| MSN: | 24-125 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1958 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2550 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-A1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Hernando, Mississippi -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Marks-Selfs Airport, MS (MMS/KMMS) |
| Hernando, MS (H75) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot said that he had trouble getting the engine started before departing on his flight, and that even though the engine was warm he had to prime it about five times to get it started. He said that while in cruise flight at 3,000 feet, all of a sudden the engine ceased operating. He said the airspeed decreased and the propeller kept wind milling, so he verified that he had been operating the airplane obtaining fuel from the right fuel tank, turned on the boost pump, primed the engine, and it started operating again. About 4 or 5 gallons of fuel was in the left tank, but more fuel was in the right tank, and he was about half way between the departure and destination points so he said he decided to continue to his destination. He said he flew for about 20 minutes and while descending to 1,700 feet the engine ceased operating again. He said he attempted to restart it again, but was unsuccessful so he executed a forced landing to a cotton field. During the landing the right wing and right main gear were damaged. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that the pilot told him that during the last annual inspection conducted in March 2002, the fuel filter was found to be partially blocked, and again in July 2002 the fuel filter drain had to be cleaned because the drain hose was also found to be blocked. Postaccident examinations of the airplane were performed by an FAA inspector and a FAA licensed mechanic, and the examinations revealed 16 gallons of fuel in the right tank, and 5 gallons of fuel in the left tank. In addition, debris was found in the fuel boost pump screen and in the carburetor.
Probable Cause: The pilot's operation of the airplane with known deficiencies ( contaminated fuel system) which resulted in fuel starvation, a forced landing to a cotton field, and damage to the airplane during the landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB MIA02LA159
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Oct-2022 09:56 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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