# Accident 20130719012839A: Piper PA-28R-201T, Holdrege, NE, July 19, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 2013, 12:00 local time
- Place: Holdrege, NE
- Airport: Brewster Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.4689° N, 99.3811° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4689&lon=-99.3811&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31698, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31698-2018-05-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-201T (registry code 7102813, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201T
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360-FB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,078 total, 370 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13FA429](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA429) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130719012839A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN13FA429](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA429), Jul 19, 2013: Piper PA-28R-201T (N31698), Holdrege, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power during takeoff due to the activation of the primer diverter valve.

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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