# NTSB CEN14CA459: Piper PA 32R-301T, N532DR, Sedalia, MO, August 25, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2014, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Sedalia, MO - Coordinates: 38.738609, -93.160835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7386&lon=-93.1608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89962 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA459 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89962/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89962 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA459 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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-32R-301T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the approach to land, the engine "missed a few times and stopped." The pilot began to trouble shoot the loss of engine power and prepare for a forced landing. He stated that when he checked the fuel selector valve, it moved further to the left which surprised him. During a forced landing to a field the nose wheel collapsed and the left wing was substantially damaged. The fuel selector valve was found in the "off" position. The right-wing fuel tank contained ½ gallon or less of fuel and the left-wing fuel tank contained 36 to 37 gallons of fuel. After the airplane was recovered from the field, fuel was added to the fuel tanks. The engine started without hesitation and ran for several minutes at various power settings without any anomalies or issues. An examination of the remaining airplane, engine, and fuel-related systems revealed no mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative During the approach to land, the engine "missed a few times and stopped." The pilot began to trouble shoot the loss of engine power and prepare for a forced landing. He stated that when he checked the fuel selector valve, it moved further to the left which surprised him. During a forced landing to a field the nose wheel collapsed and the left wing was substantially damaged. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the fuel selector valve was found in the "off" position. The right-wing fuel tank contained ½ gallon or less of fuel and the left-wing fuel tank contained 36 to 37 gallons of fuel. After the airplane was recovered from the field, fuel was added to the fuel tanks. The engine started without hesitation and ran for several minutes at various power settings without any anomalies or issues. An examination of the remaining airplane, engine, and fuel-related systems revealed no mechanical anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N532DR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N532DR), registered now, S/N 3257060, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 32R-301T (301T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (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: 3257060 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 1021.5 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AHIA 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 23, 2014 - Departed: IKW, Midland, MI - Destination: DMO, Sedalia, MO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KDMO, Sedalia Regional Airport - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 550 total, 65 in this make and model, 517 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KDMO ## 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 20140825016229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140825016229A), Aug 25, 2014: Piper PA-32R-301T, Sedalia, MO, Substantial damage. During descent for landing at kdmo, the engine lost power. The pilot was forced to land in a bean field two miles north of dmo. On-site examination of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89962. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417371&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.