20180707015869A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-34-220T · Gulf Shores, AL · July 7, 2018

Date: July 7, 2018 · 09:20 local
Place: Gulf Shores, AL
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N294AB
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA18LA186
Reported as: Piper PA-34-220T
Reported engine: Continental TSIO-360 series
People aboard: 5
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 343 total35 in this make and model76 in the last 90 days

N294ABRegistration cancelled Dec 2, 2020 · Piper PA-34-220TS/N 34-8133257 · Built 1981 Airframe modelPiper PA-34-220T Engine modelContinental TSIO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During touchdown on runway 09, airplane bounced three times. Pilot chose to go-around. After applying full power and initiating the climb, the left engine began to lose power and was described as surging. Pilot attempted to trouble shoot by adjusting throttle, selecting left engine fuel to crossfeed, and placing boost pump on high with no change. Pilot stated airplane was losing airspeed, not gaining altitude, and the flight controls were feeling mushy. Pilot stated he did not have time to feather the left engine. Pilot chose to make an emergency landing in the trees. Investigaton indicates the left engine experienced fuel exhaustion.

As the FAA filed it

DURING TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 09, AIRPLANE BOUNCED THREE TIMES. PILOT CHOSE TO GO-AROUND. AFTER APPLYING FULL POWER AND INITIATING THE CLIMB, THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND WAS DESCRIBED AS SURGING. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLE SHOOT BY ADJUSTING THROTTLE, SELECTING LEFT ENGINE FUEL TO CROSSFEED, AND PLACING BOOST PUMP ON HIGH WITH NO CHANGE. PILOT STATED AIRPLANE WAS LOSING AIRSPEED, NOT GAINING ALTITUDE, AND THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE FEELING MUSHY. PILOT STATED HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO FEATHER THE LEFT ENGINE. PILOT CHOSE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE TREES. INVESTIGATON INDICATES THE LEFT ENGINE EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA18LA186Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGulf Shores, ALThe pilot's improper preflight and in-flight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion to the left engine and a total loss of engine power during an attempted go-around maneuver.Jul 7, 2018 · Substantial damage