Saturday, January 01, 2022

Fuel Starvation: Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six, N3793W; accident occurred June 10, 2021 in Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado











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; Denver, Colorado

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

G&M Aircraft Inc

Rocky Mountain Flight School


Location: Lafayette, Colorado
Accident Number: CEN21LA261
Date and Time: June 10, 2021, 19:10 Local 
Registration: N3793W
Aircraft: Piper PA32
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel starvation
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The purpose of the instructional flight was for the pilot to receive a checkout in the airplane. Before the flight, the right wing main fuel tank contained 16-18 gallons of fuel, the left wing main fuel tank contained less than 10 gallons of fuel, and both wingtip tanks were completely full (17 gallons each). The pilot and his flight instructor discussed the fuel status before departure and had agreed to operate the engine on the right wing main tank to correct the fuel imbalance between the tanks during the flight.

The flight consisted of visual flight rules maneuvers and touch-and-go landings, and about 1.1 hour into the flight the airplane had a loss of engine power about 1,000 ft above the ground while in cruise flight. A forced landing was completed to a nearby field, but shortly after touchdown the airplane collided with a berm that caused the airplane to become airborne again. The nose landing gear collapsed and both wings were substantially damaged when the airplane landed hard the second time.

The pilot and his flight instructor both reported that the entire flight had been flown using fuel from the right wing main fuel tank. Neither the pilot nor his flight instructor switched fuel tanks after the loss of engine power because they were focused on the forced landing. The pilot stated that based on the airplane’s performance data, the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation.

An onsite examination of the wreckage revealed that the right wing main fuel tank was intact and contained less than ¼ gallon of fuel. According to the airplane’s owner’s handbook, there was about 1 pint of unusable fuel in each of the 4 fuel tanks. The remaining 3 fuel tanks contained usable fuel. Additionally, there were no mechanical malfunctions identified with the airplane’s fuel system or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The flight crew’s improper fuel management that resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power.

Findings

Aircraft Fuel - Fluid management
Personnel issues Use of equip/system - Flight crew

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute-cruise Fuel starvation (Defining event)
Enroute-cruise Off-field or emergency landing

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 27, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: July 26, 2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 30, 2019
Flight Time: 1216.1 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1.8 hours (Total, this make and model), 1127 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 145.6 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 55.8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4.1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private 
Age: 34, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): 
Airplane Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 29, 2021
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 11, 2019
Flight Time: 309 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1.1 hours (Total, this make and model), 240.9 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 55.6 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 22.9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1.1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N3793W
Model/Series: PA32 260
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1966 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: 32-720
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: October 4, 2020 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 57.6 Hrs 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3420.9 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: O-540-E4B5
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 260 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBJC,5595 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 8 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 19:10 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 184°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 15000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 112 knots / 18 knots 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 320° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.81 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C / 10°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Broomfield, CO (BJC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Lafayette, CO
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 18:00 Local 
Type of Airspace: Class D

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 40.03063,-105.1037

4 comments:

  1. Based on the recommendations made by this "crew", the fuel burn of an o-540 in a Cherokee six is a mysterious subject, has not been covered in enough detail to prevent them from burning 16 gallons in an hour of maneuvering. The rest of us manage through...um? Luck?
    After the instructor receives 5 hrs in type, they might find the fuel burn data? Or someone will let them in on that secret? Wow.

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    Replies
    1. Exactly. I love this guy. Telling us how to prevent a fuel starvation accident. No I don’t need 5 hours in type before instructing, just a little time reading the POH and other online resources to come up with my fuel plan for the lesson. This guy should have his CFI ticket pulled.

      Delete
  2. I’m relieved that I live 1500 miles from these 2 knuckleheads. SMH!

    ReplyDelete
  3. simple use of a watch timer and or pre established alarms to trigger cockpit events as in switching tanks .....

    ReplyDelete