# NTSB CEN13LA362: Piper PA-24-260, N856CC, Eagle, CO, June 28, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2013, 14:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Eagle, CO - Coordinates: 39.641109, -106.935554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6411&lon=-106.9356&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 87251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA362 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87251/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87251 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA362 ## Probable cause The pilots’ improper fuel management, which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was worn and corroded fuel senders, which transmitted inaccurate fuel readings to the fuel monitoring system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel quantity sensor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022842): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022842/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022842/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the flight, the airplane's engine experienced a loss of power, and the copilot took control of the airplane from the pilot, who had been flying, and directed the pilot to attempt to restart the engine. The airplane descended and impacted terrain short of the runway. The fuel tank selector was found in the left main tank position, but no visible fuel was found in the left main tank. After battery power was applied to the airplane, the engine data monitoring system indicated that the left main tank had 11 gallons of fuel and the right main tank had 8 gallons of fuel. After the fuel floats were moved, the monitoring system indicated that the left main tank had 2 gallons of fuel and that the right main tank had 9.5 gallons of fuel. Regardless of the fuel quantity indications, the pilots should have known how much fuel was in each tank and, based on fuel calculations, known when each tank was going to become empty. Further, the pilot should have switched fuel tanks as part of the engine restart procedures; however, he did not report doing so. Each of the four fuel tank senders were examined and wear and corrosion were found on all of them. When tested with a voltmeter, none of the fuel floats provided consistent electrical signals, which would alter the amount of fuel indicated on the engine monitoring system. Because the selector was positioned to the left main tank, the engine lost power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2013, about 1455 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260 airplane, N856CC, impacted terrain near the Eagle County Regional Airport (KEGE), Eagle, Colorado. The pilots were both seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from McClellan-Palomar Airport (KCRQ), Carlsbad, California, about 0915 pacific daylight time and was destined for KEGE. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted an on-scene examination of the airplane. The fuel selector was found by first responders in the left main position. Battery power was applied to the airplane and the engine data monitoring (EDM) unit displayed. Left Auxiliary Tank: 0 gallons Left Main Tank: 11 gallons Right Main Tank: 8 gallons Right Auxiliary Tank: 3 gallons Each tank contained a float that was moved and allowed to settle. The EDM displayed lower quantities. During recovery, the tanks were drained. The left auxiliary tank was empty and the left main tank contained 2 gallons. The right main tank contained 9.5 gallons and the right auxiliary tank contained 2.5 gallons. The pilot reported that the co-pilot had borrowed the airplane in order to make the trip. The pilot flew the airplane while the co-pilot monitored their fuel status. While approaching runway 25 at EGE, the engine stopped producing power. The co-pilot took control of the airplane and directed the pilot to attempt a restart of the engine. The airplane descended and impacted terrain. The airplane was moved to a salvage facility and the airplane's fuel tank senders were examined. All four senders displayed signs of age, wear, and corrosion. When tested with a voltmeter, none of the floats registered a consistent electrical signal when actuated through its range of motion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N856CC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N856CC-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N 24-4020, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (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: 24-4020 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: EGE, Eagle, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EGE, Eagle County Rgnl, runway 25, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 220.6 total, 2.2 in the last 90 days, 2.2 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; flight engineer, private, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KEGE, 1 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 20130628011379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130628011379A), Jun 28, 2013: Piper PA-24-260, Gypsum, CO, Substantial damage. On 06/28/2013 at approximately 1454 hrs. MDT, N856CC a Piper model PA-24-260 comanche aircraft was substantially damaged after impacting terrain while landing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87251. 2.9 MB in all. - Correspondence: FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%3A%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Wreckage overview (item 2, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Wreckage%20overview-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.