CHINO, CA, USA
N6073W
PIPER PA-28-140
DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. UPON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN DAMAGING THE NOSE GEAR, PROPELLER, AND FUSELAGE. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED FIVE GALLONS OF FUEL. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED ONE GALLON. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATING OFF OF THE RIGHT TANK PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT FUEL GAUGES AND A VISUAL CHECK LEAD TO CONCLUSION THAT THE ACFT HAD APRX 1 HOUR ON EACH FUEL TANK.
THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT THE AIRPLANE TO DETERMINE FUEL QUANITY NOR DID HE ACCURATELY CALCULATE THE FUEL CONSUMPTION. IN ADDITION, HE FAILED TO POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE FULLEST TANK WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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