Thursday, September 20, 2018

Fuel Starvation: Piper PA-28-180, N8003W; accident occurred September 12, 2018 near Stevens Field Airport (KPSO), Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County, Colorado

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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado

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


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


https://registry.faa.gov/N8003W

Location: Pagosa Springs, CO
Accident Number: CEN18LA381
Date & Time: 09/19/2018, 1000 MDT
Registration: N8003W
Aircraft: Piper PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel starvation
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

On September 19, 2018, about 1000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA28 180 airplane, N8003W, impacted fencing and terrain during a forced landing near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, following an inflight loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot rated flight instructor and the student pilot were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the impact with fencing. The airplane was registered to and operated by San Juan Flyers Inc. as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Stevens Field Airport, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, about 0900.

According to the flight instructor's accident report, the flight instructor was introducing engine failure emergency procedures to the student pilot. Emergency procedures were reviewed inflight, the instructor located a landing spot, and pulled the throttle to idle to simulate a loss of engine power. The student pilot conducted the emergency procedures on the left side of the cockpit that included switching the fuel tank selector position from right to left, verifying the primer was in and locked, turning on the fuel pump, checking magneto operation, and turning the carburetor heat on. The flight instructor subsequently added power to go around about 600 ft above the ground. The engine sputtered. Emergency procedures were reviewed again and the flight instructor noticed that the fuel pressure indication was zero. The flight instructor did not check the fuel selector nor could the selector be seen due to its location. The flight instructor subsequently performed a forced landing during which the airplane impacted fencing and ditches before coming to rest in a field. Following the accident, the flight instructor observed the fuel selector valve was about 1.5 to 2 inches between the left detent and off positions.

Subsequent to the accident, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the accident airplane at the accident site. The airplane's engine was started, and the engine was operational.

The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation and had a safety recommendation to double check the fuel selector valve position during the forced landing demonstration. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 57, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/21/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  10000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 500 hours (Total, this make and model), 9800 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 54 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 11 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: None
Age: 62, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/26/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  3.4 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3.4 hours (Total, this make and model), 3.4 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3.4 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0.7 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N8003W
Model/Series: PA28 180
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1964
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28-2063
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/18/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5125 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91  installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360-A4A
Registered Owner: San Juan Flyers Inc
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: San Juan Flyers Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KPSO, 7661 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1055 MDT
Direction from Accident Site: 309°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 10000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 180°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.22 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C / 0°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Pagosa Springs, CO (PSO)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Pagosa Springs, CO (PSO)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0900 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Stevens Field (PSO)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 7663 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Rough
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None

Latitude, Longitude:  37.230278, -106.967222 (est)


Location: Pagosa Springs, CO

Accident Number: CEN18LA381
Date & Time: 09/12/2018, 1100 MDT
Registration: N8003W
Aircraft: Piper PA28
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

On September 19, 2018, about 1100 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA28 180 airplane, N8003W, impacted fencing and terrain during a forced landing near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, following an inflight loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot rated flight instructor and the student pilot were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the impact with fencing. The airplane was registered to and operated by San Juan Flyers Inc. as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Stevens Field Airport, near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, about 1000.


According to initial information, the flight instructor was introducing engine failure emergency procedures to the student pilot. The flight instructor subsequently added power to go around. The engine sputtered, and the flight instructor subsequently performed a forced landing where the airplane impacted fencing and ditches and came to rest in a field.


Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information


Aircraft Make: Piper

Registration: N8003W
Model/Series: PA28 180
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: San Juan Flyers Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions

Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KPSO, 7661 ft msl
Observation Time: 1055 MDT
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C / 0°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 10000 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 180°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.22 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Pagosa Springs, CO (PSO)
Destination: Pagosa Springs, CO (PSO)

Wreckage and Impact Information


Crew Injuries: 2 None

Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 37.230278, -106.967222 (est)


Archuleta County Sheriff's Office


At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, the 19th, ACSO responded to a "controlled plane crash" up in the Wildflower subdivision. According to the pilot, Anne Kautzky, she and her student, Harold Bright, were practicing simulated engine failure. Prior to doing this maneuver, a safe location is chosen in which there is room to land the plane, if necessary. It became necessary when the engine failed to restart and the pilot had to set it down. Both parties walked away unharmed, however, the plane sustained moderate damage to the leading edge of both wings, the nose cone and the front landing gear after traveling through a fence, across the road, through another fence and eventually came to rest in the middle of a field.


The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) were notified of the crash, but because there weren't any injuries or death, they quickly released the ACSO from the scene and turned it over to the insurance company for recovery.


Because this accident occurred on private property, we're asking curious folks to stay off the property and to respect the property owner's and the ranch management.


Archuleta County Sheriff's Office





A pilot and student practicing a simulated engine failure Wednesday didn’t have to wait long to put those skills to use when the plane’s engine failed to restart during the training exercise.

Around 10 a.m. Wednesday, pilot Anne Kautzky and her student, Harold Bright, were practicing a simulated engine failure in the skies near Pagosa Springs, according to the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office.


During the training, the plane engine failed to restart, and it became necessary to set it down, the Sheriff’s Office posted to its Facebook page.


Before executing the simulated engine failure, a safe location was identified in case it was necessary to land the plane.


Kautzky landed the plane in a field near the Wildflower subdivision, about 10 miles north of U.S. Highway 160 off Piedra Road.


Kautzky and Bright were not injured in the landing, the Sheriff’s Office said.


“However, the plane sustained moderate damage to the leading edge of both wings, the nose cone and the front landing gear after traveling through a fence, across the road, through another fence and eventually came to rest in the middle of a field.”


The Sheriff’s Office said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified of the crash. But because there were no injuries or deaths, the Sheriff’s Office was released from the scene and the matter was turned over to insurance companies.


The Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred on private property; it is asking people to stay off the property.


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

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