WORLAND, WY, USA
N8977D
PIPER PA-18A-150
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT DURING A FERRY FLIGHT. THE PLT REFUELED THE EMPTY RIGHT FUEL TANK AND TOPPED-OFF THE LEFT TANK WITH 3 GALLONS OF FUEL BEFORE THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE FLT HE FLEW ON THE LEFT TANK UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY BEFORE SWITCHING TO THE RIGHT TANK. SHORTLY AFTER SWITCHING TANKS THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE PLT SWITCHED BACKTO THE LEFT TANK AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN POWER. BUT SOON THE ENGINE QUIT AGAIN AND THE PLT USED THE HAND PRIMER WHILE SWITCHING TO THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART SO THE PLT SELECTED A DIRT ROAD FOR LANDING. INVESTIGAITON REVEALED SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. NO FILTER SCREEN WAS INSTALLED IN THE GASCOLATOR. THE MIXTURE CONTROLWAS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS CONTAMINATED. THE RIGHT TANK DRAIN SUMP COULD NOT BE OPERATED. THE CARBURETOR CONTAINED WATER AND CONTAMINATION IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOAT CHAMBER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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