What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On Friday, July 19, 2013, at approximately 1215 CDT, Piper PA-28R-201T, N31698, departed the Holdrege municipal airport (hde) for a VFR flight to the leoti (Kansas) municipal airport (3K7). During the initial climb, the aircraft experienced a loss of power at approximately 1000 feet AGL. The PIC, and sole occupant, cycled the electric fuel boost pump switch between the low-off-high positions, cycled the fuel selector valve and cycled the magneto switch in an attempt to regain climb power. When failing to resume power, the PIC determined that he was unable to return to the airport and elected to pursue an off-airport landing.
The aircraft subsequently crashed in a rural area approximately 4 miles north of Holdrege, Nebraska. The aircraft impacted an area between two corn fields, inducing substantial damage to the RH wing assembly and landing gear. The PIC reported no injuries.
Subsequent investigation disclosed that the electric boost pump switch had shorted to the high boost position which appears to have induced excessive fuel to the engine.
The aircraft flight manual, Piper report VB-940, section 7 advises that "excessive fuel pressure and very rich fuel/air mixtures will occur if the hi position is energized when the engine fuel injection system is functioning normally."
A malfunction and defect report was submitted concerning the fuel boost pump control switch.
As the FAA filed it
ON FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013, AT APPROXIMATELY 1215 CDT, PIPER PA-28R-201T, N31698, DEPARTED THE HOLDREGE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (HDE) FOR A VFR FLIGHT TO THE LEOTI (KANSAS) MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (3K7). DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET AGL. THE PIC, AND SOLE OCCUPANT, CYCLED THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH BETWEEN THE LOW-OFF-HIGH POSITIONS, CYCLED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND CYCLED THE MAGNETO SWITCH IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN CLIMB POWER. WHEN FAILING TO RESUME POWER, THE PIC DETERMINED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO PURSUE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING.
THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED IN A RURAL AREA APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES NORTH OF HOLDREGE, NEBRASKA. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AN AREA BETWEEN TWO CORN FIELDS, INDUCING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RH WING ASSEMBLY AND LANDING GEAR. THE PIC REPORTED NO INJURIES.
SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP SWITCH HAD SHORTED TO THE HIGH BOOST POSITION WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE INDUCED EXCESSIVE FUEL TO THE ENGINE.
THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL, PIPER REPORT VB-940, SECTION 7 ADVISES THAT "EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE AND VERY RICH FUEL/AIR MIXTURES WILL OCCUR IF THE HI POSITION IS ENERGIZED WHEN THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY."
A MALFUNCTION AND DEFECT REPORT WAS SUBMITTED CONCERNING THE FUEL BOOST PUMP CONTROL SWITCH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.