# Accident 20170423007459A: Piper PA-31-350, Covington, LA, April 23, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 23, 2017, 17:45 local time
- Place: Covington, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5578° N, 90.0300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5578&lon=-90.0300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3548J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3548J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,263 total, 740 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA166) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170423007459A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRMAN REPORTED THAT HE AND A PASSENGER HAD TOPPED OFF THE AIRCRAFT WITH FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING SLIDELL, LA (ASD) ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AT 1300 LOCAL AND FLEW TO DESTIN, FL (DTS) AND PICKED UP ONE PASSENGER IN DESTIN AND DEPARTED ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FOR VIDALIA, LA (0R4) AT 1500 LOCAL.  ONE PASSENGER WAS DROPPED-OFF AT VIDALIA; THEY THEN DEPARTED VFR FOR SLIDELL AT 1715 LOCAL.  APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MINUTES LATER WHILE CRUISING AT 2500 MSL THE PLANE LOST POWER ON THE LEFT HAND ENGINE.  THE PLANE THEN LOST 1000 FEET OF ALTITUDE; HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION OF SLIDELL ON ONE ENGINE.  APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER WHILE CRUISING AT 1500 MSL, THE PLANE LOST POWER IN THE RIGHT HAND ENGINE AND THE PILOT PICKED OUT AN OPEN FIELD TO LAND IN.  THE PLANE HAD AN UNEVENTFUL TOUCH-DOWN IN AN OPEN FIELD.  UPON ROLL-OUT, THE PLANE STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT HAND WING AND THE WINGTIP AND LH AILERON WAS RIPPED AWAY CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LH WING.

DURING THE ON-SITE, POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA SAFETY INSPECTORS; THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED THERE ZERO FUEL IN ANY OF THE TANKS, NO DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANKS, NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKING FUEL, AND NO ANOMALIES OF THE AIRFRAME, ENGINES, OR SYSTEMS TO HINDER NORMAL OPERATION.  WHILE CHECKING FOR FUEL CONTAMINANTS, THE STREAM OF FUEL FROM THE SUMPS WAS SLOW.  NO WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS WERE OBSERVED IN THE SUMPED FUEL.  UPON RECOVERY, THE SALVAGE TEAM REPORTED TO INSPECTORS THAT PRIOR TO REMOVAL OF THE WINGS FOR GROUND TRANSPORT, THAT THE MOST FUEL DRAINED FROM ANY ONE TANK WAS HALF-A-GALLON.

IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE PILOT REPORTED TO INSPECTORS THAT HE HAD FEATHERED THE LH PROPELLER AFTER ITS FAILURE, INSPECTORS FOUND THE PROPELLER TO BE IN THE NORMAL POSITION.  ADDITIONALLY; BOTH THROTTLES, PROP CONTROLS, AND MIXTURE LEVERS WERE IN THE NORMAL POSITION FOR A NORMAL LANDING AND SHUT DOWN.

## 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 CEN17LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA166), Apr 23, 2017: Piper PA 31-350 (N3548J), Covington, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of power to both engines due to fuel exhaustion.

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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