# NTSB BFO90LA071: Piper PA-24-180, Charleston, WV, August 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1990, 14:34 local (18:34 UTC)
- Place: Charleston, WV
- Coordinates: 38.369308, -81.560699 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3693&lon=-81.5607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11610/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA071

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO FATIGUE FAILURE OF A FUEL LINE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:   LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AND OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES & UTILITY POLE) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fuel system,line - fatigue (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - utility pole (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD HE SVCD THE ACFT TO THE 50 GAL LEVEL (BOTTOM OF FILLER NECKS) BEFORE DEPG ON THE 1ST LEG OF THE FLT TO ONTARIO, CANADA. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 14 MI FROM LANDING AT CHARLESTON, WV, WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS & THE ENG RESTARTED. THE PLT RPRTD THAT ABOUT 6 TO 8 MINS LATER, THE ENG LOST POWER AGAIN & WOULD NOT RESTART. TERRAIN IN THE AREA WAS HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS. DURING AN EMERG LNDG, THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE, THEN IMPACTED ON A ROAD & HIT A UTILITY POLE BEFORE STOPPING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED FUEL STREAKS ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, AFT OF THE ENG COWLING. A FURTHER EXAM REVEALED THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE, PN 21163-00, HAD FAILED INSIDE THE ENG COMPARTMENT. THE LINE FAILED ABT 2.5 INCHES FROM WHERE IT CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY. A METALLURGICAL EXAM DETERMINED THE LINE HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CGBEG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-83
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David Mcelroy/Michael Freund
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SAV, SAVANNAH, GA
- Destination: CRW, CHARLESTON, WV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CRW, Yeager

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,307 total, 128 in this make and model, 1,208 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRW

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.