# Accident 20020616012519A: Piper PA28R200, Bethlehem, GA, June 16, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 16, 2002, 15:45 local time
- Place: Bethlehem, GA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9333° N, 83.7167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9333&lon=-83.7167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N15143 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R200
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020616012519A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PIC EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS WHILE PERFORMING GROUND REFERENCE MANEUVERS AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ENGINE BACKFIRED, BUT EVIDENCE IT WAS RUNNING ON IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, JUST OUTBOARD OF THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE PIC TOLD AN ON-SITE WITNESS HE WAS FEEDING THE ENGINE FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WHEN THE ENGINE BEGINS LOSING POWER. HE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK AND ENGAGED THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP TO NO AVAIL. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE INCLUDES THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COMPLETELY SEVERED, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND OTHER MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE ON BOARD AND NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE PIC STATED HE FOUND FUEL LEVEL AT THE "TAB" IN EACH TANK DURING HIS PREFLIGHT. THIS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 17 GALLONS IN EACH TANK OR 34 GALLONS TOTAL. AT THE LANDING SITE, IT WAS REPORTED 5.5 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND 3.5 GALLONS FROM THE LEFT. (SEE ATTACHED FOR COMPLETE NARRATIVE).

## 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 ATL02LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA123), Jun 16, 2002: Piper PA-28R-200 (N15143), Bethlehem, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to follow operational procedures for the airplane, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation/fuel flow interruption. A factor was the lack of suitable…

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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