# NTSB ATL05LA039: Piper PA-32-300, N364BW, Polkton, NC, January 6, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 5, 2005, 19:39 local (Jan 6, 2005, 00:39 UTC) - Place: Polkton, NC - Coordinates: 34.990833, -80.163055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9908&lon=-80.1631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Charlotte FSDO - 33 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA039 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine-driven fuel pump, which resulted in fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,pump - failure (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - berm - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis The engine lost power in cruise flight at night, and the pilot's attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. During forced landing, the airplane collided onto a berm. Examination revealed the right main fuel tank was empty, the electric fuel boost pump operated, and no mechanical defect was determined. The airplane's engine was disassembled, inspected, reassembled, and test run for 2 hours 15 minutes with no mechanical malfunction observed. The engine was reinstalled on the airplane, the airplane was returned to service, and the engine again lost power during a subsequent flight on February 8, 2005. Following second mishap, test bench examination of the engine-driven fuel pump revealed excessive fuel leakage from the shaft seal at the drive end of the pump. Disassembly examination of the unit revealed the rotor seal at the pump's drive end was worn beyond manufacturer's specifications, and wear and damage to the rotor interface with the drive coupling were observed. ## Factual narrative On January 5, 2005, at 1939 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N364BW, registered to Race City Air, LLC, and operated by Package Express, collided onto a berm during emergency landing following a loss of engine power in Polkton, North Carolina. The domestic cargo flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, about 1845 on January 5, 2005. The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet when the engine sputtered. He stated he immediately switched from the right main fuel tank to the left main fuel tank and turned on the electric fuel boost pump, then the engine quit completely. The pilot stated he performed the engine restart procedures on the emergency checklist, but his attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot reported the problem to a Charlotte Approach air traffic controller, and the controller provided radar vectors to the nearest airport in Anson County, North Carolina. The pilot was unable to see the airport in the darkness, and he stated the airplane did not have sufficient altitude to glide the distance to it. The pilot glided the airplane toward a row of lights along what appeared to be an open area for emergency landing. The pilot could not see in the darkness that the terrain was not level, and he landed the airplane on an approximate 30-degree sloping berm along a prison perimeter fence. Examination of the airplane revealed the nose landing gear was separated, the propeller was damaged, and the fuselage was buckled at the firewall. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the right main fuel tank was empty, the electric fuel boost pump operated, and no mechanical defect was determined. The airplane's engine was disassembled, inspected, reassembled, and test run for 2 hours 15 minutes with no mechanical malfunction observed. The engine was reinstalled, the airplane returned to service, and the engine again lost power during a subsequent flight on February 8, 2005. Following the February 8, 2005, mishap, the airplane's fuel system accessories were removed for examination. Test bench examination of the airplane's engine-driven fuel pump, a Lear Romec model RG17980 upgraded to model RG17980D/M, revealed the unit rotated and operated, and flow test data could not be obtained due to excessive fuel leakage from the shaft seal at the drive end of the pump. Disassembly examination of the unit revealed the rotor seal at the pump's drive end was worn beyond manufacturer's specifications, and wear and damage to the rotor interface with the drive coupling were observed. A review of manufacturer's records revealed the unit was manufactured prior to 1989, and there was no record of factory upgrade or overhaul of the unit. Evidence of non-OEM-approved field alterations to the unit were observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N364BW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N364BW-2007-01-30), registration cancelled 2007-01-30, S/N 32-7240005, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7240005 - Airframe hours: 9068.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Package Express - Registered owner: Race City Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2005, 6.3 hours before - Departed: KMYR, Myrtle Beach, SC - Destination: KJQF, Concord, NC - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 2,860 total, 650 in this make and model, 2,520 as pilot in command, 340 in the last 90 days, 125 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KCLT ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050106000139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050106000139A), Jan 6, 2005: Piper PA32300, Polkton, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported to ATC the engine failed during flight at approximately 6,000 ft MSL during an IFR flight from myr to jqf. Pilot noted no fuel in rt main… ## Other investigations on N364BW (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 ATL05LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA049), Feb 8, 2005: Piper PA-32-300 (N364BW), Concord, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the failure of the fuel pump which resulted in fuel starvation. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.