# Accident 20220216001969A: Piper PA-32R-300, Washington, NC, February 16, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 16, 2022, 14:55 local time
- Place: Washington, NC
- Airport: Washington-Warren Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5705° N, 77.0498° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5705&lon=-77.0498&mi=10
- Aircraft: N114BR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N114BR-2024-05-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,100 total, 22 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA130) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220216001969A

## Narrative

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

N114BR WAS BEING FLOWN FOR A PRE-BUY INSPECTION AND FLIGHT.  PILOT STATED THAT THEY DID A TWO HOUR PRE-FLIGHT TO GO OVER THE AIRWORTHINESS OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE TWO PILOTS THAT WERE PURCHASING N114BR HIRED A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SINCE BOTH PILOTS WERE NOT CURRENT IN SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANES.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY PUT ON 10 GALLONS PER SIDE WHICH GAVE THE TOTAL FUEL OF ABOUT 38 GALLONS.  PILOT STATED THAT THEY DID A THOROUGH PREFLIGHT INCLUDING SUMPING THE FUEL TANKS. PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE RUNUP THEY HAD A 300-400 RPM DROP ON BOTH MAGNETOS.  THEY PERFORMED THE BURN OFF PROCEDURE BY RUNNING THE ENGINE TO A HIGH RPM AND LEANED THE MIXTURE IN ORDER TO BURN THE CARBON OFF THE SPARK PLUGS.  THIS PROCEDURE WORKED AND ACHIEVED 50 RPM DROP BETWEEN EACH MAGNETO WHICH WAS WITHIN TOLERANCE.

THE FIRST TRIP AROUND THE PATTERN WAS UNEVENTFUL AND THEY MADE A TOUCH AND GO LANDING.  ON DOWNWIND OF THE SECOND PASS THE PILOT DECIDED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK.  ONCE THEY SWITCHED TANKS THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF BUT THE PROP KEPT WINDMILLING.  THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED BACK TO THE RIGHT TANK AND VERIFIED THE FUEL PUMP WAS ON.  THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD NEAR THE AIRPORT.  AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT SLID INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH AT THE END OF THE LANDING ROLL.

POST EXAMINATION BY FAA MAINTENANCE ASI (AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR) FOUND 3 PINTS OF WATER IN THE LEFT TANK FUEL SUPPLY.  WATER WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES LEADING UP TO THE ENGINE.  THE RIGHT TANK HAD NO FUEL CONTAMINATION.

PROBABLE CAUSE - FUEL CONTAMINATION

PILOT FLYING WAS NOT THE PIC (PILOT IN COMMAND) SINCE HE WAS NOT CURRENT PER 14 CFR 61.57(A)(1).  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS THE PIC.

## 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 ERA22LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA130), Feb 16, 2022: Piper PA32R (N114BR), Washington, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

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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