20020803019789A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-180 · Cheraw, SC · August 3, 2002

Date: August 3, 2002 · 15:45 local
Place: Cheraw, SC
Airport: Cheraw Municipal Airport
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N3450R
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA02FA144
Reported as: Piper PA28180
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N3450RRegistration cancelled Jan 5, 2006 · Piper PA-28-180S/N 28-5684 · Built 1969 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-180 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

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) Engine failed during climb out. Pilot tried to return to airport, crashed 200 yards short of runway. Aircraft was destroyed. Post crash examination disclosed the right tank was empty, left tank had approximately 13 gallons. Further examination disclosed that the wing fuel lines were recently repaired and the lines were connected backwards. The left tank lines were connected to the right fuel selector valve and the right tank lines were connected to the left fuel selector valve.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ENGINE FAILED DURING CLIMB OUT. PILOT TRIED TO RETURN TO AIRPORT, CRASHED 200 YARDS SHORT OF RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. POST CRASH EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY, LEFT TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY 13 GALLONS. FURTHER EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE WING FUEL LINES WERE RECENTLY REPAIRED AND THE LINES WERE CONNECTED BACKWARDS. THE LEFT TANK LINES WERE CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND THE RIGHT TANK LINES WERE CONNECTED TO THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.

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 MIA02FA144Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCheraw, SCThe misrouting of the fuel lines to the fuel selector, which resulted in the use of a fuel tank with inadequate fuel supply, fuel starvation, and the loss of engine power. Contributing was the pilot's inadequate remedial action for conducting an emergency…Aug 3, 2002 · Substantial damage