# Incident 20030714017999I: Piper PA24260, Greensboro, NC, July 14, 2003

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 2003, 13:55 local time
- Place: Greensboro, NC
- Airport: Piedmont Triad International Airport
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1013° N, 79.9411° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PIEDMONT TRIAD INTL (GSO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1013&lon=-79.9411&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9219P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9219P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-260 (registry code 7102406, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24260
- Reported engine: LYC IO540D4A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030714017999I

## Narrative

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

(-23) AFTER LEVELING OFF AT A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 5000 FT IN IMC CONDITIONS, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND SURGE. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND RETURNED TO GREENSBORO. DURING THE VECTORS TO GREENSBORO THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE AND RUN ROUGH. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AT GREENSBORO. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT READ CORRECTLY WHEN ANY OF THE FOUR TANKS WERE SELECTED. ADDITIONALLY, EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LEAK WAS NOTED ON THE ENGINE COWLING. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT SHE AND THE PASSENGER (ALSO A PILOT) ATTEMPTED SWITCHING TANKS SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO RUN SMOOTHLY ON ANY TANK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS WHO FOUND PROBLEMS WITH A LEAKING OIL COOLER, A DETERIORATED INDUCTION DUCT, OIL IN THE CARB. BOX, DEBRIS IN THE FUEL STRAINER, AND BROKEN CONTACTS FOR THE FUEL GAUGE SELECTOR. THIS MOST LIKELY RESULTED IN THE PILOT SELECTING A FUEL TANK THAT DID NOT CONTAIN ADEQUATE FUEL FOR THE INTENDED 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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