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19981002040019A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-38-112 · Toughenamon, PA · October 2, 1998

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 2, 1998 · 15:30 local
Place
Toughenamon, PA
Airport
New Garden Airport
Phase of flight
Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N2535A
NTSB investigation
NTSBNYC99LA003
Reported as
Piper PA38112
Reported engine
Lycoming O235*
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
1,719 total1,000 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days
N2535ARegistration cancelled Oct 18, 2012 · Piper PA-38-112S/N 38-78A0738 · Built 1978Airframe modelPiper PA-38-112Engine modelLycoming 0-235 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.

(-23) The pilot reported that the engine lost power just after takeoff and the aircraft crashed off the end at the end of the runway. (.4) after the airplane was preflighted, the sp started the engine, and taxied the airplane for takeoff. After checking both magnetos, the sp executed the takeoff. The airplane accelerated normally, but after, but approximately 60 feet above the ground, the CFI felt a loss of power. He took control of the airplane, extended the flaps, and started to slip the airplane. While slipping the airplane, the CFI confirmed that the primmer was in, the fuel pump was on, and the fuel selector was on the right tank. The airplane touched down passed the departure end of the runway then went over a 30 foot drop-off nose first. No mechanical failures were detected when the engine was examined. The fuel strainer was found locked in the open position, which would allow the engine fuel pump to suck air. The pilot's operating hand states that during the preflight the pilot should drain the fuel strainer.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER JUST AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED OFF THE END AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. (.4) AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS PREFLIGHTED, THE SP STARTED THE ENGINE, AND TAXIED THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF. AFTER CHECKING BOTH MAGNETOS, THE SP EXECUTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED NORMALLY, BUT AFTER, BUT APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE CFI FELT A LOSS OF POWER. HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, EXTENDED THE FLAPS, AND STARTED TO SLIP THE AIRPLANE. WHILE SLIPPING THE AIRPLANE, THE CFI CONFIRMED THAT THE PRIMMER WAS IN, THE FUEL PUMP WAS ON, AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT TANK. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN PASSED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY THEN WENT OVER A 30 FOOT DROP-OFF NOSE FIRST. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE DETECTED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED. THE FUEL STRAINER WAS FOUND LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE ENGINE FUEL PUMP TO SUCK AIR. THE PILOT'S OPERATING HAND STATES THAT DURING THE PREFLIGHT THE PILOT SHOULD DRAIN THE FUEL STRAINER.

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 NYC99LA003Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportToughkenamon, PAThe pilot's inadequate preflight inspections which failed to detect an open fuel strainer valve, which resulted in a loss of engine power.Oct 2, 1998 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2535A · 1

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

Accident 19810323012129ALevel Off Touchdown · Easton, PABallooned on landing. Struck runway nose first. Collapsed nose gear. Impact wrinkled wings and fuselage.Mar 23, 1981 · Destroyed