Fuel Starvation: Piper PA-22-150 Caribbean, N4816A; accident occurred July 18, 2020 in Loveland, Clermont County, Ohio

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cincinnati, Ohio

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

https://registry.faa.gov/N4816A

Location: Loveland, Ohio 

Accident Number: CEN20LA290

Date & Time: July 18, 2020, 17:30 Local

Registration: N4816A

Aircraft: Piper PA22

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Fuel starvation 

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal Factual Information

Analysis

Before the pilot's departure on a cross-country flight, he added 7.5 gallons of fuel to each wing fuel tank. The pilot reported that before adding fuel, both fuel gauges read ¼ tank. About an hour and half after departure, the engine lost power, had a momentary gain of power, and then lost power again. The pilot selected a road for a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted several mailboxes and a light pole before coming to stop in a residential yard.

Examination of the airplane found substantial damage to the left wing, damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, and right-side engine cowling. The right-wing fuel tank was then drained and about 5.5 gallons of fuel was recovered, the left-wing fuel tank did not contain any useable fuel. The left fuel gauge read about ¼ and the right fuel gauge read zero. The examination did not confirm the accuracy of the gauges or if the wires were swapped from the left and right fuel tanks. Fuel was added to right wing fuel tank, and the engine started. The engine was operated from idle, to a high power setting, with no abnormalities noted.

The pilot reported on the NTSB Form 6120.1, that he thought the reason for the engine failure was due to fuel exhaustion.

With fuel remaining in the right-wing fuel tank, the loss of engine power is consistent with fuel starvation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Findings

Personnel issues Fuel planning - Pilot

Aircraft Fuel - Fluid management

Aircraft Fuel indication system - Not specified

Factual Information

On July 18, 2020, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22 airplane, N4816A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Loveland, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, before adding fuel, both fuel gauges read ¼ tank and he added about 7.5 gallons to each tank, for an additional 15 gallons of fuel. He then departed the Wadsworth Municipal Airport (3G3), Wadsworth, Ohio, en route to the Cincinnati Municipal Airport-Lunken Field (LUK), Lunken, Ohio. About an hour and half after departure, the engine lost power, had a momentary gain of power, and then lost power again. The pilot selected a road for a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted several mailboxes and a light pole before coming to stop in a residential yard.

The pilot reported that he typically switches fuel tanks every 10-15 minutes but did not recall if he did it on this flight. He also did not switch fuel tanks after the initial loss of engine power.

Examination of the airplane found substantial damage to the left wing, damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, and right-side engine cowling. The fuel selector was in the off position. The right-wing fuel tank was then drained and about 5.5 gallons of fuel was recovered, the left-wing fuel tank did not contain any useable fuel. The carburetor float bowl was checked and no contaminates were found. The left fuel gauge read about ¼ and the right fuel gauge read zero. The examination did not confirm the accuracy of the gauges or if the wires were swapped from the left and right fuel tanks.

During the examination, fuel was added to right wing fuel tank, and the engine started. The engine was operated from idle to a high power setting with no abnormalities noted.

The pilot reported on the NTSB Form 6120.1 that he thought the reason for the engine failure was due to fuel exhaustion.

History of Flight

Enroute Fuel starvation (Defining event)

Landing-landing roll Collision during takeoff/land

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private

Age: 31

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter

Restraint Used: Lap only

Instrument Rating(s): None

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): None 

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 1 

Last FAA Medical Exam: March 1, 2016

Occupational Pilot: No 

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: April 30, 2019

Flight Time: 528 hours (Total, all aircraft), 168 hours (Total, this make and model), 383 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper

Registration: N4816A

Model/Series: PA22 150

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 

Amateur Built: No

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 

Serial Number: 22-3969

Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel

Seats:

Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 4, 2020 Annual

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time:

Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming

ELT: 

Engine Model/Series: O-320-A2B

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power: 150 Horsepower

Operator: On file 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KLUK

Distance from Accident Site:

Observation Time: 16:53 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

Lowest Cloud Condition: 

Visibility: 7 miles

Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 5500 ft AGL

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots / 

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /

Wind Direction: 230° 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /

Altimeter Setting: 30.03 inches Hg 

Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C / 21°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Wadsworth, OH (3G3)

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Destination: Lunken, OH (KLUK) 

Type of Clearance: VFR

Departure Time: 14:50 Local

Type of Airspace:

Airport

Runway Surface Type:

Airport Elevation:

Runway Surface Condition:

Runway Used:

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width:

VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None 

Latitude, Longitude: 39.267501,-84.26583(est)