# NTSB CEN11LA162: Piper PA24, N8023P, Huntsville, TX, January 28, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2011, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Huntsville, TX - Coordinates: 30.902778, -95.437774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9028&lon=-95.4378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78234 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78234/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78234 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA162 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection to ensure the main tanks were full, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot requested that the airplane be “topped off” with fuel before the flight. The person who refueled the airplane filled two of the four tanks with 9 gallons of fuel total, and the pilot said he visually checked that all four tanks were full during his preflight inspection. The pilot reported that after flying about 1 hour, the “engine started surging due to a lack of fuel” and quit. He made several attempts to restart the engine “by switching from all of the rest of [his] full tanks” but was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a dirt road. During the landing, the left main gear collapsed and the left wing spar sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed both main tanks were empty and the two auxiliary tanks were full. There was no evidence of any fuel leaks at the scene. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the airplane auxiliary tanks only being fueled and the pilot departing with insufficient fuel in the main tanks, resulting in an engine failure due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2011, about 1400 central standard time, a Piper model PA-24-250 airplane, N8023P, was substantially damaged after an off airport landing following a loss of engine power. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight originated at Livingston Municipal Airport (00R), Livingston, Texas, and was en route to Huntsville Municipal Airport (UTS), Huntsville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated he had requested the airplane to be “topped off” by a local fixed base operator. Fueling records confirmed the airplane took nine gallons of fuel. The pilot also stated he visually confirmed all four fuel tanks were “topped off” during his preflight inspection. The pilot said he started the engine at 1302 and took off at 1309. He landed at 00R at 1339 and left the engines running on the ground for about 20 minutes, and departed. While flying from 00R to UTS at 1354 the “engine started surging due to a lack of fuel.” The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but the engine would not restart. He then performed a forced landing to a dirt road. During landing the left main gear collapsed and the left wing spar was damaged. The airplane was equipped with four fuel tanks, a left and right main tank and left and right auxiliary tanks. According to the airplane owner’s handbook 60 gallons is the standard combined capacity of the main fuel tanks. If auxiliary fuel cells are installed the capacity is 90 gallons. The auxiliary fuel cells hold 15 gallons each and are located outboard of the main fuel tanks. The person who fueled the airplane said he refueled only two tanks and was not aware the airplane was equipped with four tanks. He thought he had fueled the inboard main tanks and did not notice the two auxiliary tanks. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and determined the left and right main fuel tanks were empty and the two auxiliary tanks were full. He did not detect any signs of fuel leaks at the scene. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8023P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8023P), registered now, S/N 24-3267, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA24 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3267 - Airframe hours: 5149 - Engines: LYCOMING IO540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 2010 - Departed: 00R, Livingston Airp, TX - Destination: UTS, Huntsville, TX - Airport: UTS, Huntsville Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 37 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KUTS, 12 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 20110128001429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110128001429A), Jan 28, 2011: Piper PA-24-250, Huntsville, TX, Substantial damage. At 1400 CST, aircraft made an emergency landing approximately 12 NM NE of Huntsville municipal airport (kuts) on a dirt road inside the ellis unit Texas state… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78234. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 551 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 357 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Lineman Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 381 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Lineman%20Interview%20Summary-Redacted.PDF - FAA Passenger Interview Summary (item 4, .PDF, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Passenger%20Interview%20Summary-Redacted.PDF - Fuel Test Results (item 5, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Test%20Results-Redacted.PDF - Fuel Log and Receipts (item 6, .PDF, 463 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Log%20and%20Receipts-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Left Wing (item 7, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20Wing-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Right Wing (item 8, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20Wing-Master.PDF - POH Excert (Fuel System Description) (item 9, .PDF, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=POH%20Excert%20(Fuel%20System%20Description)-Master.PDF 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.