# Accident 20050429006799A: Piper PA25235, Houston, TX, April 29, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 29, 2005, 16:03 local time
- Place: Houston, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.5211° N, 95.2419° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5211&lon=-95.2419&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4514Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4514Y-2013-09-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-235 (registry code 7102504, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA25235
- Reported engine: LYC O540B2B5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,580 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW05LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050429006799A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PA-25-235 PAWNEE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET AGL AND TOWING A 40' TALL X 120' LONG, 4,800 SQUARE FOOT "BILLBOARD BANNER" OVER A CONGESTED AREA ON THE WEST SIDE OF HOUSTON TX WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THE PILOT SAID HIS ONLY AVAILABLE FORCED LANDING AREA WAS THE ATHLETIC GROUNDS NEXT TO A HIGH SCHOOL. THE PILOT SAID HE DROPPED HIS BANNER AT 300 FEET AGL AND WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 70 KNOTS WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR, BOUNCED ONCE, AND STRUCK A 12 FOOT CHAIN LINK FENCE SURROUNDING THE HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS COURTS. TOTAL DISTANCE AFTER INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS 280 FEET. ONLY A SUPERFICIAL INJURY TO THE PILOT, BUT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE PAWNEE (BOTH WING SPARS WERE DAMAGED). FAA INSPECTORS FOUND WATER AND SOLID CONTAMINANTS IN THE GASCOLATOR AND THE CARBURETOR BOWL, AND FOUND AN OBVIOUS "WINGED INSECT" TRAPPED IN THE TRANSPARENT IN-LINE FUEL FILTER. THE OPERATOR'S PRIVATELY OPERATED ABOVE GROUND FUEL STORAGE FACILITY HAD NO PROVISIONS FOR SUMPING THE FUEL, NO PROVISIONS FOR A LOW POINT DRAIN, NO PSID GAUGES, NO WATER FUSE, NO RECORD OF FILTER CHANGE, NO PLAN FOR QUALITY SUMPING, AND ONLY A 2 LB DRY CHEM FX, HOWEVER THE DELIVERY PUMP SAMPLE PASSED A WHITE BUCKET TEST.

## 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 DFW05LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA113), Apr 29, 2005: Piper PA-25-235 (N4514Y), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation in detecting contaminated fuel. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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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