Smoketown, PA, USA
N9183Y
Piper PA-28-161
The airplane was last fueled 1.4 hours prior to the accident flight. The pilot then flew for approximately 3 hours with the left fuel tank selected. When the airplane was approximately 12 miles from the destination airport, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine unsuccessfully, and then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a barn. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were ruptured, and no fuel was observed in the main fuel line from the firewall to the fuel pump, or the fuel line from the fuel pump to the carburetor. No mechanical anomalies were identified with the engine or airplane. According to the Piper PA-28-161 Pilot Operating Handbook, the airplane burned approximately 8.5 gallons per hour at a 75 percent power setting. The total fuel capacity was 48 useable gallons.
On January 28, 2006, at 1745 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N9183Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted a barn during a forced landing in Smoketown, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries, one passenger received serious injuries, and two other passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at the Cape May County Airport (WWD), Wildwood, New Jersey. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the flight originated at Lancaster Airport (LNS), Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at 1415. The pilot stated he departed with full fuel in the left tank and the right fuel tank was 3/4 full. He flew to Cape May, with the left fuel tank selected, arriving approximately 1545. He then departed Cape May at 1630, for the return flight to Lancaster. About 90 minutes later, at an altitude of 4,500 feet, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot applied carburetor heat and switched the fuel selector to the right tank; however, the engine did not restart. He realized he would not be able to make it to Lancaster, and diverted to the Smoketown Airport (S37), Smoketown, Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, he realized he would not make it to Smoketown Airport, and prepared for a forced landing in a field. During the landing approach, the airplane impacted a barn. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and engine after the accident. According to the inspector, the airplane's left and right wings were separated from the airplane and both fuel tanks were ruptured. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand, and compression and valve train continuity was confirmed to all cylinders. Approximately 1 teaspoon of fuel was observed in the engine-driven fuel pump, and approximately 2 ounces of fuel were observed in the carburetor bowl. No fuel was observed in the main fuel line from the firewall to the fuel pump, or the fuel line from the fuel pump to the carburetor. The data card from the Engine Data Management system, was extracted and sent to the manufacturer for download. Examination of the data correlated with values in the "normal" range for approximately 30 minutes, followed by an interruption of engine power, a momentary restart, and finally a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he did not fuel the airplane at Lancaster or Cape May on the day of the accident. Fuel records and flight logs provided by a fixed base operator at Lancaster indicated that the airplane was last fueled on January 28, 2006, at 1205, with 12.1 gallons of fuel. The airplane was then flown for 1.4 hours, prior to the accident flight. According to the Piper PA-28-161 Pilot Operating Handbook, the airplane consumed approximately 8.5 gallons per hour at a 75 percent power setting, when leaned for best economy. The total fuel capacity was 48 useable gallons. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land, and reported 120 hours of total flight experience. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on July 14, 2004.
The pilot's improper pre-flight planning and improper fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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