# NTSB CEN12LA651: Piper PA-28-140, N5538F, Boonville, IN, September 10, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 2012, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Boonville, IN - Coordinates: 38.042499, -87.317779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0425&lon=-87.3178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85107 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA651 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85107/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85107 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA651 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination could not verify whether the fuel selector was properly positioned before takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection and added 10 gallons of fuel to each tank before the solo flight. After takeoff, the airplane's engine lost power during initial climb. He then executed a forced landing in a field. Postaccident examination of the airplane, including the fuel system and engine, found fuel in both tanks but an absence of fuel in the fuel lines from the gascolator to the mechanical fuel pump. The fuel selector was found in the off position, but the student pilot's flight instructor reported that he had turned the fuel selector to the off position after arriving at the accident site. The instructor stated that he could not be sure, but the fuel selector may not have been fully engaged in the detent before he moved it to the off position. Although it is possible that the student pilot did not have the fuel selector properly positioned, the preimpact position of the valve could not be determined. The student pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2012, about 1810 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5538F, sustained substantial damage during an off-airport landing to a corn field following a loss of engine power after takeoff near Boonville, Indiana. The student pilot had just taken off from runway 9 (2,300 feet by 100 feet, turf), when the engine lost power. The airplane sustained damage including a buckled firewall, buckled left wing, and separated nose landing gear. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by J F Aircraft LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The student pilot reported that arrived at the airport for a solo flight in the local traffic pattern. He stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and added fuel prior to the flight. He noted that no abnormalities were found. After fueling the airplane he boarded the airplane, started it and taxied to the run-up area where he performed a pre-takeoff run-up with no abnormal indications noted. After lining up for takeoff, full power was applied and the airplane accelerated to liftoff speed and a 75 mph climb speed established. The student pilot reported that when the airplane had reached an altitude about 100 to 150 feet above the ground, the engine sputtered twice and then lost all power. He stated that the propeller stopped rotating and he executed a forced landing to a corn field. Once the airplane came to a stop the pilot turned off the master electrical switch, the electric fuel pump switch and exited the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspectors revealed no fuel in the fuel lines from the gascolator to the mechanical fuel pump. The fuel selector valve was in the off position. The engine could be rotated and engine continuity was confirmed. Both magnetos produced spark when the engine was rotated. The damage to the airplane included wrinkling of the firewall, buckling of the left wing, and separation of the left main landing gear. In a telephone conversation with the student pilot's flight instructor, the instructor stated that he had turned off the fuel selector at the accident site prior to the arrival of FAA inspectors to prevent the possibility of a fuel leak. Although he could not be sure, the instructor stated that when he turned the selector valve to the off position it may not have been fully engaged in the detent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5538F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5538F-2018-01-05), registration cancelled 2018-01-05, S/N 28-24937, built 1968 (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: 28-24937 - Airframe hours: 3579 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: JF Aircraft LLC - Registered owner: JF Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 13, 2012, 38 hours before - Departed: I91, Boonville, IN - Destination: I91, Boonville, IN - Airport: I91, Boonville Airport, runway 09, 2,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: EVV, 9 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 20120910020969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120910020969A), Sep 10, 2012: Piper PA-28-140, Boonville, IN, Substantial damage. The student pilot took off on a solo flight on runway 090 and climbed to aprox. 75-100 feet, on runway heading. The engine stopped running and the student… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85107. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.