OpenAirDocs.org

20020808022559A

Accident · Substantial damage
Open the Markdown

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-151 · Masterson, TX · August 8, 2002

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
August 8, 2002 · 16:00 local
Place
Masterson, TX
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N43473
NTSB investigation
NTSBFTW02LA251
Reported as
Piper PA28151
N43473Registration cancelled May 20, 2015 · Piper PA-28-151S/N 28-7415504 · Built 1974Airframe modelPiper PA-28-151Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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) On August 08, 2002, at approximately 1600 central daylight time, Mr. Martin, a commercial rated pilot, performed an emergency off field landing due to a total loss of engine power. This loss of power occurred from a cruise altitude. He explained that the engine appeared as if it were going to the idle configuration. Ultimately the engine ceased to operate and he was unable to restart this engine. The aircraft came to rest east of Masterson, Texas, in a rocky grass pasture. This aircraft sustained substantial damage to right wing spar, main landing attachment fittings and engine firewall. Investigation of this aircraft engine inspection revealed that during the installation of the main fuel filter line, the fifth and last thread failed in the carburetor housing boss. The thread became embedded in the carburetor needle valve and the carburetor housing seat which may have deprived the aircraft engine of fuel. The mechanic initiated an FAA malfunction defect report for this situation.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON AUGUST 08, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 1600 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, MR. MARTIN, A COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT, PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY OFF FIELD LANDING DUE TO A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THIS LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED FROM A CRUISE ALTITUDE. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE ENGINE APPEARED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO THE IDLE CONFIGURATION. ULTIMATELY THE ENGINE CEASED TO OPERATE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THIS ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST EAST OF MASTERSON, TEXAS, IN A ROCKY GRASS PASTURE. THIS AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO RIGHT WING SPAR, MAIN LANDING ATTACHMENT FITTINGS AND ENGINE FIREWALL. INVESTIGATION OF THIS AIRCRAFT ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE MAIN FUEL FILTER LINE, THE FIFTH AND LAST THREAD FAILED IN THE CARBURETOR HOUSING BOSS. THE THREAD BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE CARBURETOR NEEDLE VALVE AND THE CARBURETOR HOUSING SEAT WHICH MAY HAVE DEPRIVED THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE OF FUEL. THE MECHANIC INITIATED AN FAA MALFUNCTION DEFECT REPORT FOR THIS SITUATION.

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 FTW02LA251Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMasterson, TXThe loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a blockage of the carburetor. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the emergency landing.Aug 8, 2002 · Substantial damage