# Accident 20000917036079A: Piper PA28161, Prescott, AZ, September 17, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 17, 2000, 15:18 local time
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6208° N, 112.4204° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6208&lon=-112.4204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6303C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6303C-2006-11-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4M
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 197 total, 60 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA341) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000917036079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)DUE TO A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH DESERT SHRUBS BEFORE COMING TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD REFUELED TO MAXIMUM TANK CAPACITY PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND CALCULATED THE EN ROUTE TIME TO THE PLANNED REFUELING STOP AT 4 HOURS 15 MINUTES. HE STATED THAT HE WAS 4 HOURS 10 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT AND NEAR THE REFUELING AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOWER AND INFORMED THEM THAT HE WAS OUT OF FUEL AND WAS GOING TO TRY TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY. HE HAD TO MANEUVER TO AVOID ON-COMING VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND LANDED IN THE BRUSH-COVERED FIELD. RESPONDING PERSONNEL DID NOT SEE OR SMELL FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE OR ON THE GROUND SURROUNDING THE AIRPLANE. MECHANICAL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE ENGINE DURING AN EXAMINATION. WITH THE FUEL PUMP TURNED ON, A FUEL LEAK WAS FOUND AT THE FUEL LINE FITTING WHERE IT ENTERS THE CARBURETOR. THE LEAK RATE WITH JUST THE BOOST PUMP ON WAS 1 DROP PER MINUTE. HEAVY FUEL STAINING WAS NOTED ON THE CARBURETOR BOWL BELOW THE BOWL SEAL GASKET AND AROUND THE LINE FITTING, AND ON INDUCTION HOSES DIRECTLY BELOW THIS POINT. THE HEAVY AND THICK STAIN RESIDUE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A LONG-TERM LEAK. REVIEW OF THE LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REINSTALLED AFTER AN OVERHAUL ABOUT 8 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A REMOTE FUEL SOURCE WAS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL FITTING OF THE LEFT WING AND AN ENGINE GROUND RUN TO FULL POWER WAS CONDUCTED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. ACCORDING TO THE AIRPLANE MANUFACTURE, THIS AIRPLANE HOLDS 48 GALLONS OF FUEL WITH 4 GALLONS UNUSABLE FUEL. THE RANGE/CRUISE PERFORMANCE CHARTS IN THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL SHOWS A BEST POWER FUEL CONSUMPTION OF 9.0 GALLONS PER HOUR AT 65 PERCENT POWER, AND 10.5 GALLONS PER HOUR AT 75 PERCENT POWER. THE ENDURANCE TIME SHOWN IN THE CHARTS FOR 65 PERCENT POWER IS 5.5 HOURS. (-23)SEE PTRS LAX00LA341

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX00LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA341), Sep 17, 2000: Piper PA-28-161 (N6303C), Prescott, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: An improper engine installation by other maintenance personnel that resulted in a fuel leak at the main fuel line fitting to the carburetor and subsequent fuel exhaustion during cruise flight.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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