19971020030829A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-20 · Naknek, AK · October 20, 1997

Date: October 20, 1997 · 18:00 local
Place: Naknek, AK
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7049K
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC98LA005
Reported as: Piper PA20
Reported engine: Lycoming O320A2B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,850 total1,600 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N7049KRegistered now · Piper PA-20S/N 20-157 Airframe modelPiper PA-20 Engine modelLycoming 0-290 series4 cycle

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.

(.19)Departed mininum fuel. Engine quit crash landed on tundra. (.4)the pilot departed on a local flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with 1/4 tank of fuel visible in the left fuel tank sight gauge. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. The right tank contained a small amount of fuel. While in cruise flight, the engine suddenly quit, and the pilot switched to the right fuel tank. The engine started, and ran for another 3 minutes, but quit running a second time. The pilot selected an open area of tundra and performed a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane's right main landing gear was broken from the fuselage. The pilot later reported that he departed with 18 gallons of fuel. The pilot said he encountered unexpected head winds, and switched fuel tanks to his reserve tank. The engine ran a few minutes, and then quit. The pilot reported an inspection of the airplane revealed a restriction in the fuel gauge, producing a false reading.

As the FAA filed it

(.19)DEPARTED MININUM FUEL. ENGINE QUIT CRASH LANDED ON TUNDRA. (.4)THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT IN THE TAILWHEEL-EQUIPPED AIRPLANE WITH 1/4 TANK OF FUEL VISIBLE IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK SIGHT GAUGE. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE LEFT TANK. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT, AND THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE ENGINE STARTED, AND RAN FOR ANOTHER 3 MINUTES, BUT QUIT RUNNING A SECOND TIME. THE PILOT SELECTED AN OPEN AREA OF TUNDRA AND PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS BROKEN FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE PILOT LATER REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED WITH 18 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED UNEXPECTED HEAD WINDS, AND SWITCHED FUEL TANKS TO HIS RESERVE TANK. THE ENGINE RAN A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN QUIT. THE PILOT REPORTED AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A RESTRICTION IN THE FUEL GAUGE, PRODUCING A FALSE READING.

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 ANC98LA005Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNaknek, AKThe loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor associated with the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.Oct 21, 1997 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N7049K · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19901012045879AGo Round (Aborted VFR) · King Salmon, AKTook off in wet snow falling with ice and snow on airframe. Made pass at gravel bar and stalled on go around.Oct 12, 1990 · Substantial damage Incident 19880529057409IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Jack Fish Landi, AKStudent pilot damaged aircraft while taxiing for takeoff. Cause of damage not stated.May 29, 1988 · Minor damage Incident 19800521053659ILevel Off Touchdown · Oakes, NDHard landing on farm field damaged gear and prop.May 21, 1980 · Minor damage