# Incident 20230801014639I: Piper PA-38-112, St. Jacob, IL, August 1, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2023, 18:18 local time
- Place: St. Jacob, IL
- Airport: St Louis Metro-East/Shafer Fie
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7329° N, 89.8066° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ST LOUIS METRO-EAST/SHAFER FLD (IL48), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7329&lon=-89.8066&mi=10
- Aircraft: N144M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,500 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230801014639I

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT STARTED WITH 12.5 GALLONS OF FUEL. DURING MY INSPECTION, THERE WAS STILL FUEL IN BOTH TANKS. THEY FLEW FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, PERFORMED THE LANDING CHECKLIST, THEN PROCEEDED TO PRACTICE FOUR TOUCH AND GOES. ON THE FIFTH TOUCH AND GO, THEY WERE AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AND ¾ MILE FROM THE RUNWAY, AND THE ENGINE QUIT.

THE PILOT TURNED TOWARD THE RUNWAY, SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND ATTEMPTED A RESTART. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART, AND HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD NEXT TO ILLINOIS STATE ROUTE 4 IN ST. JACOB, IL. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. BOTH OCCUPANTS OF AIRCRAFT HAD NO INJURIES.

AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED BACK TO THE HANGER. THE MECHANICS VERIFIED THERE WAS FUEL IN BOTH TANKS. THERE WAS NO WATER OR DEBRIS IN THE GASOLATER. AFTER FIVE ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE STARTED, BUT WOULD NOT REV UP. THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THE FACILITY REPORTS THE SHAFT WAS WORN, BUT DID NOT APPEAR TO MALFUNCTION.

9/27/2023 THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. A NEW FUEL PUMP P/N AF15472 WAS INSTALLED AND THE AIRCRAFT IS BEING RETURNED TO SERVICE.

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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