# Accident 20050701032209A: Piper PA28180, West Carrollton, OH, July 1, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2005, 11:00 local time
- Place: West Carrollton, OH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6825° N, 84.2428° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6825&lon=-84.2428&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3992R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3992R-2005-11-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC05LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA111) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050701032209A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 01, 2005 AT 1100 LOCAL, A PIPER PA-28-180, N3992R WAS DESTROYED WHILE ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT MORAIN AIR PARK (I73). THE PILOT REPORTED SMELLING SMOKE IN THE CABIN DURING TAKEOFF, AND THAT THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMAL ON TAKEOFF AND CLIMB TO ABOUT 600 FEET WHEN HE DECIDED TO RETURN AND LAND BECAUSE "THINGS JUST WEREN'T RIGHT." WHEN HE BANKED LEFT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED, STRIKING TREES AND THE GROUND. INSPECTION REVEALED NO VISIBLE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE SMELL. SEVERAL PILOTS AND MECHANICS WITNESSED THE EVENT, AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED ABNORMAL, AND WAS SPUTTERING AND MISSING ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. ALL WITNESSES WERE CONFIDENT THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REACH AN ALTITUDE OF MORE THAN 100 FEET. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE ENGINE AND ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP FUNCTIONED NORMALLY ON TEST STANDS. BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OUTSIDE DURING TORRENTIAL RAINS (.362 INCH) THE NIGHT BEFORE DEPARTURE, RUNNING WATER OVER THE CAP FOR 40 SECONDS TESTED THE LEFT WING FUEL CAP GASKET. WATER WAS OBSERVED SEEPING UNDER THE GASKET. THE PILOT REPORTED TAKING A FUEL SAMPLE, BUT NO SERVICEABLE FUEL SAMPLE DEVICE WAS FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 NYC05LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA111), Jul 1, 2005: Piper PA-28-180 (N3992R), West Carrollton, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent loss of engine power. A factor related to the accident was the deteriorated fuel cap seals.

## Other reports on N3992R (1)

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

- [Accident 19730929035509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730929035509A), Sep 29, 1973: Piper PA28180 (N3992R), Ceder Key, FL, Substantial damage. No brake malfunction found.

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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