19960912034459A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-31-350 · Janesville, WI · September 12, 1996

Date: September 12, 1996 · 21:15 local
Place: Janesville, WI
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: BAKA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N27299
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI96LA335
Reported as: Piper PA31350
Reported engine: Lycoming TIO540*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 14,500 total3,800 in this make and model250 in the last 90 days

N27299Registered now · Piper PA-31-350S/N 31-7752128 · Built 1977 Airframe modelPiper PA-31-350 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The pilot reported that he had a trip in the morning. He reported that he was running late and was in a hurry. He neglected to check the nacelle tanks for fuel, but he did check the main and auxiliary tanks which were full. He reported that he mistakenly thought he had fuel in the nacelle tanks. He completed the trip and was returning to Janesville, Wisconsin. About 12 miles from the airport both engines quit and he executed a forced landing to a field. The aircraft refueler reported that he did not refuel the nacelle tanks. He reported he was told to top off the main and outboard tanks. Examination of the aircraft revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks. (-23) while dead heading back to home base (jvl) aircraft ran out of fuel. Aircraft landed gear up in a hayfield damaging engines, props and belly. Investigation revealed no fuel in the tanks. Pilot confirms fuel exhaustion.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD A TRIP IN THE MORNING. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS RUNNING LATE AND WAS IN A HURRY. HE NEGLECTED TO CHECK THE NACELLE TANKS FOR FUEL, BUT HE DID CHECK THE MAIN AND AUXILIARY TANKS WHICH WERE FULL. HE REPORTED THAT HE MISTAKENLY THOUGHT HE HAD FUEL IN THE NACELLE TANKS. HE COMPLETED THE TRIP AND WAS RETURNING TO JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN. ABOUT 12 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT BOTH ENGINES QUIT AND HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT REFUELER REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT REFUEL THE NACELLE TANKS. HE REPORTED HE WAS TOLD TO TOP OFF THE MAIN AND OUTBOARD TANKS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS. (-23) WHILE DEAD HEADING BACK TO HOME BASE (JVL) AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP IN A HAYFIELD DAMAGING ENGINES, PROPS AND BELLY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE TANKS. PILOT CONFIRMS FUEL EXHAUSTION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI96LA335Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportJanesville, WIfuel exhaustion as a result of an inadequate preflight by the pilot in command.Sep 13, 1996 · Substantial damage