# NTSB CEN14LA233: Piper PA 32-300, N5222S, Lancaster, OH, May 7, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 6, 2014, 21:30 local (May 7, 2014, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, OH - Coordinates: 39.753612, -82.674446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7536&lon=-82.6744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 77-12-01](https://openairdocs.org/ad/77-12-01) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 89184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89184/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89184 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA233 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the deterioration of the fuel selector valve, which allowed fuel to be fed from only the right tip tank. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate annual inspection, which failed to detect the deteriorated valve. ## 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-32-300, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 167 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were conducting night touch-and-go landings and were in the traffic pattern for the second landing when the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot advanced the throttle lever to increase the engine rpm, but the engine did not respond. The pilot moved the throttle lever, mixture control, and fuel selector and turned on the fuel pump in an attempt to troubleshoot the loss of power. Unable to restore engine power, the pilot made an emergency landing in a field. A postaccident examination revealed that the fuel selector valve was in the OFF position. The right tip fuel tank did not contain any fuel. The other three fuel tanks were mostly full of fuel. Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive (AD) 77-12-01, applicable to the accident airplane, was issued on June 10, 1977, to prevent a fuel system malfunction and a possible power interruption. AD 77-12-01 requires regular inspection of the fuel selector valve; it was most recently completed during the annual inspection, about 5 months before the accident, and no anomalies were noted. A postaccident engine run revealed that the engine operated with no anomalies. The fuel selector valve was obviously worn and degraded to the point that it would not control the fuel flow. The detents were very worn and fuel continued to flow through the selector valve even when between detents and in the OFF position. Thus, the loss of engine power was likely a result of the deteriorated fuel selector valve, which allowed fuel to feed only from the right tip tank until it was exhausted. It is also likely that the deterioration of the fuel selector valve was overlooked during the last annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 2014 about 2130 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA 32-300 airplane, N5222S, made an emergency landing in a field near Lancaster, Ohio. The private pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provision of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated about 2120. The pilot reported that he was conducting touch-and-go landings and was flying in the traffic pattern for the second landing when the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot attempted to adjust the throttle lever while turning base to final, but the engine did not respond. The pilot and passenger moved the throttle lever, mixture control, fuel selector and turned on the fuel pump in an attempt to restore the power. The engine power was unable to be restored so the pilot made an emergency landing in a field. A postaccident examination revealed that the throttle, fuel mixture, and propeller controls were found in the full forward position. The fuel selector valve was found in the OFF position. The right tip fuel tank did not contain any fuel. The other 3 fuel tanks (right main, left main, left tip) were mostly full of fuel. A postaccident engine run revealed that the engine operated with no anomalies. The fuel selector valve was worn and degraded to the point that it would not control the fuel flow. The detents were worn and fuel would continue to flow through the selector valve even when selected between detents and in the OFF position. On June 10, 1977, the Federal Aviation Administration issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 77-12-01 PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-2914, applicable to the accident airplane, "to prevent a fuel system malfunction and a possible power interruption." On December 5, 2013, during the most recent annual inspection, AD 77-12-01 was completed and no anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5222S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5222S-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N 32-40917, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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: 32-40917 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 3055 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Smith Christopher - Registered owner: Smith Christopher - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2013, 39 hours before - Departed: LHQ, Lancaster, OH - Destination: LHQ, Lancaster, OH - Airport: LHQ, Fairfield County, runway 10, 5,004 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 100 total, 4 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2013; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KLHQ ## 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 20140506007639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140506007639A), May 6, 2014: Piper PA-32-300, Carroll, OH, Substantial damage. On 5/6/2014, PIC [privacy data omitted] traveled to Fairfield County Ohio airport for accomplishment of practice flights. Following preflight of the aircraft,… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89184. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector’s (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413698&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%E2%80%99s-Master.PDF - Pilot Statements (item 3, .PDF, 497 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413699&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Records – Annual Inspection (item 4, .PDF, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20%E2%80%93%20Annual%20Inspection%20-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 240 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Fuel Selector (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Fuel%20Selector%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Piper AD 77-12-01 (item 7, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Piper%20AD%2077-12-01-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.