Saturday, July 07, 2018

Fuel Exhaustion: Piper PA-34-220T Seneca III, N294AB; accident occurred July 07, 2018 near Jack Edwards Airport (KJKA), Gulf Shores, Alabama

View of Airplane as Found 
 Federal Aviation Administration

 




Photo of undamaged device.

View of side of engine data monitor.








The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Birmingham, Alabama 
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N294AB


Location: Gulf Shores, AL
Accident Number: ERA18LA186
Date & Time: 07/07/2018, 0920 CDT
Registration: N294AB
Aircraft: Piper PA34
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 5 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 7, 2018, at 0920 central daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N294AB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to wooded terrain near Jack Edwards Airport (JKA), Gulf Shores, Alabama. The private pilot and four passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was privately owned and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight which departed Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), Lafayette, Louisiana and was destined for JKA.

In a written statement, the pilot provided a detailed description of his preflight inspection, his performance of weight and balance calculations, and his loading of the airplane with golf clubs, baggage, and the passengers. The pilot visually checked for the presence of fuel, but did not measure the fuel in the tanks, and neither did he service them with additional fuel. He noted no anomalies and estimated that there were 30 gallons of fuel "per side prior to departure according to the fuel gauges."

The pilot reported no anomalies with the performance and handling of the airplane in his description of the flight until landing. Upon landing, the airplane began to "porpoise or oscillate," and after the third or fourth bounce, the pilot aborted the landing.

The pilot said that he pushed the throttle, propeller, and mixture levers "full forward" and retracted the landing gear when a positive rate of climb was established. Immediately after, the left engine "appeared" to lose power and was "surging." The airplane yawed to its left, and the right engine continued to operate "normally." The pilot attempted to restore left engine power by placing the auxiliary fuel pump switch to "high" and selecting "crossfeed" on the left fuel selector.

The left engine stopped producing power, the stall horn sounded, and the controls "started to buffet." The pilot said he had "no time" to consult the checklist, considered multiple forced landing areas, and eventually chose to land straight ahead into trees. The airplane came to rest upright with substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He reported 335 total hours of flight experience, of which 65 were in multiengine airplanes, and 33 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.

At 1415, the weather recorded at JKA included scattered clouds at 2,100 ft and calm wind. The temperature was 28°C, and the dew point was 23°C. The altimeter setting was 30.08 inches of mercury.

According to the an aircraft recovery specialist who recovered the airplane, an odor of fuel was detected at the site, but no fuel drained from either wing when each was separated from the airframe. No fuel-spillage remediation was required at the site after recovery of the airplane.

Data downloaded from the onboard JPI 760 engine data monitor revealed a profile consistent with the engine power surging and power loss on the left engine as described by the pilot.

The engines were examined in Mobile, Alabama, at the manufacturer's facility. The propeller was removed from the right engine due to impact damage. A club propeller was installed, and the engine was placed in a test cell. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. The engine was run through the manufacturer's test protocol with no anomalies noted.

A test run on the left engine was not performed due to separation of the propeller flange by impact. The engine was rotated by hand through the propeller governor drive pad, and continuity was established through the powertrain and valve train to the accessory section. Compression on each cylinder was confirmed using the thumb method. Internal engine timing was confirmed through index alignment on the camshaft and crankshaft gears. Magneto timing was confirmed using an electronic magneto synchronizer.

The components of the fuel system were bench-tested, and the demonstrated flow rates were within ranges necessary to sustain normal engine operation. Flow rates outside the nominal bench-test ranges were affected by airframe-specific, on-airframe adjustments.

The left and right magnetos were bench-tested and produced spark at all terminal leads. The No. 5 bottom terminal lead on the left magneto sparked at a cut in the lead consistent with impact damage.

Neither engine displayed any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.

Interpolation of performance charts at the maximum allowable gross takeoff weight and atmospheric conditions consistent with those at the time of the accident revealed that the airplane's single-engine rate of climb was 280 ft per minute.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 41, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):None 
Toxicology Performed:No 
Medical Certification: BasicMed Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/18/2006
Occupational Pilot:No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 335 hours (Total, all aircraft), 33 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N294AB
Model/Series: PA34 220T
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 34-8133257
Landing Gear Type:Tricycle 
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/26/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3277 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer:Cont Motor 
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: TSIO-360 SER
Registered Owner:On file 
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light:Day 
Observation Facility, Elevation: KJKA, 16 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1415 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 347°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2100 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 23°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Lafayette, LA (LFT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Gulf Shores, AL (JKA)
Type of Clearance: IFR; VFR
Departure Time: 0745 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: JACK EDWARDS NATIONAL (JKA)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 17 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 09
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 6962 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 4 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 5 Minor
Latitude, Longitude:  30.289722, -87.671667 (est)

Location: Gulf Shores, AL
Accident Number: ERA18LA186
Date & Time: 07/07/2018, 0920 CDT
Registration: N294AB
Aircraft: Piper PA34
Injuries: 5 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 7, 2018, at 0920 central daylight time, a Piper PA-34, N294AB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to wooded terrain near Jack Edwards Airport (JKA), Gulf Shores, Alabama. The private pilot and 4 passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight which departed Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), Lafayette, Louisiana and was destined for JKA. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot provided a detailed description of his preflight inspection, his performance of weight and balance calculations, and his loading of the airplane with golf clubs, baggage, and the passengers. The pilot visually checked for the presence of fuel, but did not measure the fuel in the tanks, and neither did he service them with additional fuel. He noted no anomalies and estimated there were 30 gallons of fuel "per side prior to departure according to the fuel gauges."

The pilot reported no anomalies with the performance and handling of the airplane in his description of the preflight, run-up, takeoff, en-route, and the approach-to-landing portions of the flight. Upon landing, the airplane began to "porpoise or oscillate" and after the 3rd or 4th bounce the pilot aborted the landing.

The pilot said he pushed the throttle, propeller, and mixture levers "full forward" and retracted the landing gear when a positive rate of climb was established. Immediately after, the left engine "appeared" to lose power and was "surging." The airplane yawed to its left, and the right engine continued to operate "normally." The pilot attempted to restore left engine power by placing the auxiliary fuel pump switch to "high" and selecting "crossfeed" on the left fuel selector.

The left engine stopped producing power, the stall horn sounded, and the controls "started to buffet." The pilot said he had "no time" to consult the checklist, considered multiple forced landing areas, and eventually chose to land straight ahead into trees. The airplane came to rest upright with substantial damage do both wings, and the fuselage.

The pilot held a private pilot's certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He was operating under 14 CFR 61.23(c)(1)(v) and (c)(3), Basic Medical rule. He reported 335 total hours of flight experience, of which 65 were in multiengine airplanes, and 33 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the airplane was manufactured in 1981. Its most recent annual inspection was completed June 26, 2018 at 3,277.7 total aircraft hours.

At 1415, the weather recorded at JKA included scattered clouds at 2,100 feet and calm winds. The temperature was 28°C, and the dew point was 23°C. The altimeter setting was 30.08 inches of mercury.

The wreckage was recovered for examination at a later date. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N294AB
Model/Series: PA34 220T
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: L Clayton Burgess Plc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: KJKA, 16 ft msl
Observation Time: 1415 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2100 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm / ,
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Lafayette, LA (LFT)
Destination: Gulf Shores, AL (JKA)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 4 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 5 Minor
Latitude, Longitude:  30.289722, -87.671667 (est)



ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -    The owner of the plane that crashed in Alabama yesterday is L. Clayton Burgess, of Lafayette, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Officials say five people were on board at the time of the crash. All of them survived. 

Orange Beach Assistant Police Chief Steven Brown says four of the five people are from Lafayette, and one person is from St. Martinville. 

Their identities have not been released.

A spokesperson with the Federal Aviation Administration says a Piper PA-34-220T Seneca IIIt made a forced landing in a heavily wooded area about 1 mile north of the Gulf Shores toll bridge around 9 a.m. 

First responders arrived at 9:22 a.m. and located the pilot and passengers walking in the woods. 

All were okay with the exception of some minor scrapes and bruises, Brown says. 

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate and determine if the event was an incident or accident, depending on the extent of damage to the aircraft.  

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.katc.com


ORANGE BEACH, AL (WALA) -  A small plane crashed east of the Foley Beach Express in Baldwin County Saturday morning.

No one was killed or seriously hurt, officials say.

According to officials, Orange Beach police and fire departments responded to reports of a crashed plane at about 9:22 a.m. The crash site was located in a wooded area north of The Wharf and east of the Foley Beach Express.

The pilot and passengers from the plane were found walking in the woods near the crash site, with no apparent injuries except for some minor scrapes and bruises, reports the Orange Beach Police Department.

The pilot and passengers are from out of state and were flying in for a golf outing, Orange Beach Police say.

Federal authorities were en route to investigate the cause of the crash.

Orange Beach Asst. Police Chief Steve Brown said the crash site is in woods that are "extremely thick and difficult to get through."

"The FAA is currently handling this crash, and I will defer any comments as to the cause of the crash to them," Brown said.

Aerial video footage shot by Pamela and David Walter, who were flying over the crash site Saturday morning, shows wreckage of the airplane in a wooded area.

FOX10 News also has published a slideshow of crash site photography by Orange Beach PD's Brown, showing wreckage strewn through the woods and hanging from trees. Some trees have been stripped of bark and limbs, but the fuselage of the airplane appears intact in the photos. Other parts of the aircraft appear to be sheared off.

Story and video ➤ http://www.fox10tv.com









Approximately 9:22 am Orange Beach Police Department and Fire responded to a reported plane crash.

The crash was reported as north of the Wharf and east of the Foley Beach Express.

The crash site is located in a heavily wooded area approximately 500 yards east of the FBX. 

Personnel arriving located the pilot and passengers walking in the woods and were ok with the exception of some minor scrapes and bruises.

There were no serious injuries or fatalities.

The pilot and passengers are from out of state and flying in for a golf outing. 

Federal authorities are en route to investigate the crash. 


Orange Beach, Ala. (WKRG) -   According to Orange Beach Police Chief Joe Fierro says, one pilot and four passengers were on board the plane. 

Fierro says no one was seriously injured in the crash. One person has minor injuries. 

The following is a press release from Assistant Chief of Police, Steve Brown:

Approximately 9:22 am Orange Beach PD and Fire responded to a reported plane. The crash was reported as north of the Wharf and east of the Foley Beach Express. The crash site is located in a heavily wooded area approximately 500 yards east of the FBX. Personnel arriving located the pilot and passengers walking in the woods and were ok with the exception of some minor scrapes and bruises. There were no serious injuries or fatalities. The pilot and passengers are from out of state and flying in for a golf outing. Federal authorities are enroute to investigate the crash. 

According to local officials in south Baldwin County, there are reports that a plane went down in Orange Beach Saturday morning.

It is believed it happened north of the Intracoastal Canal near Roscoe Road. Crews with Orange Beach are responding.

At this time it is not clear if anyone has been hurt or how many people may have been on board. 

Story and video ➤ https://www.wkrg.com




A pilot and passengers suffered only minor scrapes and bruises when a plane crashed this morning in Orange Beach, authorities said.

Police and fire crews were called to the scene just east of the Foley Beach Express at 9:22 a.m. The heavily wooded area is north of the Wharf, police said.

The pilot and passengers were found walking in the woods, said Steve Brown, assistant chief of Orange Beach police.

"There were no serious injuries or fatalities," Brown said in a news release. "The pilot and passengers are from out of state and flying in for a golf outing."

Brown said federal authorities will take over the crash investigation.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.al.com

6 comments:

  1. as I recall, the Seneca III had about a 1300 pound useful load. Let's see, 5 guys, golf clubs, luggage. Doesn't leave a lot of room for fuel. I wonder?

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  2. They don't usually burn when they're out of fuel which was a good thing in this case as all survived. Looks like heavy rain in the one pic so I wonder if weather was a factor? Very lucky no serious injuries as shredded as that plane was!

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  3. The aircraft's gross weight was increased to 4,750 lb (2,155 kg) for takeoff and 4,513 lb (2,047 kg) for landing.[6] A typical Seneca III with air conditioning and deicing equipment has a useful load of 1,377 lb (625 kg).[9]

    This one had at least deice (see boot on vertical stab)and probably air as well.

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  4. Well I called it soon as it happened, plane ran out of gas. Pilot failed to measure the actual fuel and estimated 30 gals per side, he ran out of gas on the go-around and evidently didn't have the required reserve either. The owner is a trial lawyer who wasn't on board so I wonder who he will be suing?

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  5. I've flown this plane as a safety/co-pilot numerous times to and from Jack Edwards/KLFT.
    Using my most recent W&B of N294AB W&B,It's empty weight is 3306-lbs with max of 4750-lbs leaving a 1444-lbs useful load (no deice that I can remember).
    It CAN burn 13-14 GPH (per side) if leaned properly,with the left side burning slightly more when using the aircond and usable fuel of 123 gal.
    With 0 winds it is usually a 1.5 hr flight using about 45 gal from KLFT (@ lft taxi to 04 active is long).
    I was told by more than one person all occupants were at lease 200-lbs @ 5 ea.. Google says that the average golf bags weights 20-lbs and I'll put two of those in the nose.
    My W&B for this flight with 60 gal of fuel is Takeoff weight 4,704,46 lbs under gross but,
    CG is 95.7which is 1.1 aft of its design envelope of 94.6, even if the nose baggage is maxed at 100 lbs the aft limit would be exceeded along with gross weight.
    Landing would be 4,434-lbs CG is 95.8.. 1.2 Aft of its design
    The "porpoise or oscillate" that occured during landing was due to the aft loading.
    The loss of fuel was due to the "The pilot visually checked for the presence of fuel, but did not measure the fuel in the tanks, and neither did he service them with additional fuel. He noted no anomalies and estimated there were 30 gallons of fuel "per side prior to departure according to the fuel gauges.
    Another pilot (250-lbs +) called me to fly with him and two other big guys (<300LBS) for a early morning flight in N294AP. Eyeing over the father son team I asked the pilot if he'd done a W&B and said we'd be ok (full fuel). Well upon start up the nav lights would not work so we shut down and waited an hour for sunrise. During that time I dug up the current w&B and done a rough total weight of what the 2 passengers weight s were and informed the pilot at the time that we were 302 lbs over weight and I wasn't going. I told him that even with my 170 less weight he'd still be 132-LBS over weight (I did not do a CG). He elected to make the trip. I tell you I did not feel right the whole day.
    I do not make that mistake any more
    Chalk up another one to GROSS PILOT ERROR.

    ReplyDelete