# NTSB BFO91FA078: Piper PA-23-250, N5435Y, Sod, WV, August 31, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1991, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place: Sod, WV
- Coordinates: 38.260509, -81.879249 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2605&lon=-81.8792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91FA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11631/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91FA078

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER LEVEL OFF WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING.  CONTRIBUTING WAS FUEL STARVATION RESULTING IN PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - 1 engine
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing
  - level off - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE WHEN HE RADIOED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL HE LOST POWER IN ONE OF THE ENGINES.  ATC LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH THE PILOT SOON AFTERWARDS.  WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLED AND THEN LANDED IN A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND THEN ROLLED OVER. COLLAPSING THE FUSELAGE. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED ROTATIONAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT PROPELLER, AND RELATIVELY NO DAMAGE TO THE LEFT PROPELLER. AN INSPECTION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED FUEL IN THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTOR UNIT; HOWEVER, THE SAME COMPONENTS OF THE LEFT ENGINE WERE ABSENT OF FUEL. THE LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL TANKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRPLANE DAMAGE PRECLUDED DETERMINATION OF THE FUEL ABOARD WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5435Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5435Y-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 27-2512, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Arthur G. Maloone
- Registered owner: Arthur G. Malone
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Departed: HTO, HUNTINGTON, WV
- Destination: CRW, CHARLESTON, WV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; toxicology performed; flight hours: 800 total, 38 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HTS, 999 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 19910831037629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910831037629A), Aug 31, 1991: Piper PA23250, Sod, WV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost left engine power en route. Flipped over landing in field. Left fuel tank empty. Flight possible on one engine

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.

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