20220604017469A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-300 · Snohomish, WA · June 4, 2022

Date: June 4, 2022 · 14:30 local
Place: Snohomish, WA
Airport: Harvey Field
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N561PK
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR22LA204
Reported as: Piper PA-32-300
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 313 total16 in this make and model9 in the last 90 days

N561PKRegistered now · Piper PA-32-300S/N 32-7340124 · Built 1973 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-300 Engine modelLycoming IO-540-K1A5Reciprocating

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.

After landing at Harvey Field Airport, WA (S43) and taxiing off the active runway, the PIC stated the engine started to lose power then surged. After the PIC manipulated the controls, the engine started to run normal. Before departing Harvey Field, the PIC sumped the fuel tanks but did not refuel aircraft. PIC performed an engine run-up and engine indication were normal. After about 1 minute after take off and into the climb at just below 700 feet, the engine sputtered and quit running. PIC checked the mixture and the fuel pump. PIC stated he did not switch fuel tanks. PIC landed the aircraft in a field south-west of Harvey Field.

As the FAA filed it

AFTER LANDING AT HARVEY FIELD AIRPORT, WA (S43) AND TAXIING OFF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, THE PIC STATED THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER THEN SURGED. AFTER THE PIC MANIPULATED THE CONTROLS, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN NORMAL. BEFORE DEPARTING HARVEY FIELD, THE PIC SUMPED THE FUEL TANKS BUT DID NOT REFUEL AIRCRAFT. PIC PERFORMED AN ENGINE RUN-UP AND ENGINE INDICATION WERE NORMAL. AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE AFTER TAKE OFF AND INTO THE CLIMB AT JUST BELOW 700 FEET, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT RUNNING. PIC CHECKED THE MIXTURE AND THE FUEL PUMP. PIC STATED HE DID NOT SWITCH FUEL TANKS. PIC LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A FIELD SOUTH-WEST OF HARVEY FIELD.

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 WPR22LA204Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSnohomish, WAThe total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel starvation and the pilot’s improper fuel tank selection and inadequate preflight inspection.Jun 4, 2022 · Substantial damage