RICHMOND, MO, USA
N4854T
PIPER PA-32-300
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND DURING THE FORCED LANDING. FAA INSPECTORS COULD FIND NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THEY DID FIND THAT THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS HALF-WAY BETWEEN THE LEFT MAIN TANK AND THE LEFT TIP TANK.
On August 3, 1994, at 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32- 300, N4854T, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Richmond, Missouri. The private pilot received minor injuries, one of the three passengers aboard the airplane also received minor injuries, the other two passengers received serious injuries. The business flight originated at the Trenton Municipal Airport, Trenton, Missouri, with an intended destination of Lee's Summit, Missouri. A VFR flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot stated the engine lost power while in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl. He attempted a restart without success. He said that in the process of trying to avoid some telephone lines on short final during the forced landing, the airplane stalled about 50 feet in the air, and hit the ground very hard. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who inspected the airplane and engine reported there was no fuel in the fuel distribution manifold (spider). The engine examination found no mechanical reason for malfunction. The fuel selector was positioned half-way between the left main fuel tank, and the left tip fuel tank. The fuel quantities found in the tanks were: Left main one-half full Left tip torn off airplane during landing Right main full Right tip empty
a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, reason undetermined.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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