20040731018769A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28RT-201T · Canton, MI · July 31, 2004

Date: July 31, 2004 · 15:15 local
Place: Canton, MI
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N77782
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI04CA210
Reported as: Piper PA28RT201T
Reported engine: Continental TSIO360*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 185 total150 in this make and model35 in the last 90 days

N77782Registration cancelled Apr 18, 2005 · Piper PA-28RT-201TS/N 28R-8231044 · Built 1982 Airframe modelPiper PA-28RT-201T Engine modelContinental TSIO-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) During take off aircraft experienced complete loss of power/thrust. PIC attempted to restore power by switching fuel delivery from the right tank to the left with no success. The PIC reported stall warning and appropriate action was taken. The PIC was able to bring the aircraft down under control to a roadway, striking 2 (two) large street signs. The impact caused major damage to the right wing, opening the right fuel tank promoting fire prior to touchdown, that continued until arrival of the emergency personnel. An apparent vapor suppression condition in the fuel delivery system, coupled with the lack of proper operational procedure being executed by the PIC (failure to operate the electric fuel boost pump), is the likely cause of this event.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING TAKE OFF AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER/THRUST. PIC ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE POWER BY SWITCHING FUEL DELIVERY FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT WITH NO SUCCESS. THE PIC REPORTED STALL WARNING AND APPROPRIATE ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE PIC WAS ABLE TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT DOWN UNDER CONTROL TO A ROADWAY, STRIKING 2 (TWO) LARGE STREET SIGNS. THE IMPACT CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, OPENING THE RIGHT FUEL TANK PROMOTING FIRE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THAT CONTINUED UNTIL ARRIVAL OF THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. AN APPARENT VAPOR SUPPRESSION CONDITION IN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM, COUPLED WITH THE LACK OF PROPER OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE BEING EXECUTED BY THE PIC (FAILURE TO OPERATE THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP), IS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THIS EVENT.

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 CHI04CA210Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportPlymouth, MIThe loss of engine power at a low altitude due to a fuel flow restriction caused by vapor lock. Factors to the accident included the high atmospheric temperature and the road sign that the airplane impacted during the forced landing.Jul 31, 2004 · Destroyed

Other reports on N77782 · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19960527016609ALevel Off Touchdown · Wichita, KSVeered off runway landing in strong crosswind. Collapsed landing gear. Crosswind component a factor.May 27, 1996 · Substantial damage Incident 19840628039109INormal Cruise · Pawnee, NEEncountered severe turbulence and hail. Lost control of aicraft at 11,000 feet. Recovered at 5500 feet.Jun 28, 1984 · Minor damage