# NTSB ATL95LA056: Piper PA-28-140, N7498R, Charleston, SC, March 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 3, 1995, 17:28 local (22:28 UTC) - Place: Charleston, SC - Coordinates: 32.859554, -79.97908 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8596&lon=-79.9791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3526 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3526/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA056 ## Probable cause The failure of the position washer in the fuel selector valve, which resulted in the fuel starvation of the engine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fuel system,selector/valve - failure,partial (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FUELED PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE. ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE STATED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED, AND HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER, AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES, AND CRASHED INTO THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SELECTOR VALVE REVEALED THAT THE DETENT WASHER WAS BROKEN, AND THAT 1/4 OF THE WASHER WAS MISSING. THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE DETENT, THE SELECTOR ROTATED FREELY, AND WAS EASILY MOVED TO AN IN-BETWEEN TANKS OR 'OFF' POSITION. ## Factual narrative On March 3, 1995, at 1728 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28- 140, N7498R was substantially damaged following a collision with light poles and street signs during a forced landing attempt to a highway near Charleston, South Carolina. The commercial pilot and his passenger received minor injuries in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight departed Elizabeth City, North Carolina at 1430, and was destined for Savannah, Georgia at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he obtained fuel in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He reported that he burned about 10 gallons of fuel from the right tank and then switched fuel tanks. After flying for about one hour and burning about 10 gallons of fuel from the left tank, the aircraft engine began to run rough. He stated that the first indication of trouble was an unusual noise in the engine compartment, followed by a drop in fuel pressure. He stated that after the fuel pressure dropped, and the engine began to run rough, he switched to the right fuel tank. He stated that the engine continued to run rough, and that the engine eventually lost all power. He attempted an emergency landing on a highway. He stated that he struck some trees, and crashed into the terrain during the final descent into the highway. Examination of the aircraft fuel selector valve revealed that the detent washer was broken and one fourth of the washer was missing. When the selector was rotated, there were no noticeable detents, and the selector was easily rotated to an in-between tanks "off" position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7498R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7498R-2008-10-01), registration cancelled 2008-10-01, S/N 28-22053, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-22053 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Reinken, Stephen - Registered owner: Boisvert, Jacques - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ECG, ELIZABETH CITY, NC - Destination: SAV, SAVANNAH, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 850 total, 30 in this make and model, 850 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CHS, 20 nm away ## 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 19950303003079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950303003079A), Mar 3, 1995: Piper PA28140, Charleston, SC, Substantial damage. Lost power tried for highway. Hit poles and trees. Fuel selector detente washer broken. Unable select detentes. 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.