20211112019449A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-180 · St Petersburg, FL · November 12, 2021

Date: November 12, 2021 · 18:31 local
Place: St Petersburg, FL
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5862W
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA22LA066
Reported as: Piper PA-28-180
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 720 total108 in this make and model210 in the last 90 days

N5862WRegistration cancelled Nov 30, 2022 · Piper PA-28-180S/N 28-2376 · Built 1965 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-180 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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.

PIC moved fuel selector to select fuel supply from other wing tank, but inadvertently moved fuel selector valve to off position causing fuel starvation and in-flight engine shut down. Due to low altitude, the PIC was unable to resolve his mistake before having to make an emergency landing into the water.

As the FAA filed it

PIC MOVED FUEL SELECTOR TO SELECT FUEL SUPPLY FROM OTHER WING TANK, BUT INADVERTENTLY MOVED FUEL SELECTOR VALVE TO OFF POSITION CAUSING FUEL STARVATION AND IN-FLIGHT ENGINE SHUT DOWN. DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE, THE PIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE HIS MISTAKE BEFORE HAVING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING INTO THE WATER.

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 ERA22LA066Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSt. Petersburg, FLThe pilot’s inadvertent selection of an off fuel selector position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Nov 12, 2021 · Substantial damage