# NTSB CEN14TA421: Piper PA 28-180, N4286T, Sulphur, LA, August 8, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: August 8, 2014, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Sulphur, LA - Coordinates: 30.2, -93.325279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2000&lon=-93.3253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 14, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Baton Rouge FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89857 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14TA421 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89857/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89857 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14TA421 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly manage the airplane’s fuel supply, which led to fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. ## 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-28-180, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power about 5 minutes after takeoff and that the starter would not engage to facilitate a restart. He then executed a landing on a highway, during which the landing gear collapsed. After the accident, a first responder who held a pilot certificate examined the fuel tanks and found no fuel in the left fuel tank and that the right fuel tank was full. Additionally, the first responder found the fuel selector positioned to the left tank. No fuel leaks were detected. During recovery of the airplane, 22 gallons of fuel were drained from the right wing fuel tank and about 3 ounces of fuel were drained from the left wing fuel tank. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine, including the engine starter, revealed no preimpact anomalies. The pilot provided fuel planning information that indicated that the airplane should have had sufficient fuel to complete the flight on a single tank; however, the pilot did not position the fuel selector to the full tank. Therefore, it is likely that the engine power loss was due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2014, about 1700 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N4286T, was damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Sulphur, Louisiana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage including buckling of the fuselage and wing structure and separation of the landing gear. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot as a public use flight. The flight was contracted by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary as an observation flight and the pilot was returning to his home airport when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Chennault International Airport (CWF), Lake Charles, Louisiana at 1640. The Orange County Airport (ORG), Orange, Texas, was the intended destination. The pilot reported that the he originally flew the airplane from ORG to CWF where he picked up a passenger. He then flew to an area about 35 miles south of CWF (Deep Lake) and then returned to CWF before departing on the accident flight. He reported that the airplane's engine lost power about 5 minutes after takeoff from CWF. He stated that he attempted to restart the engine but the starter would not engage. He executed a landing on a highway. During the landing, the airplane's landing gear collapsed resulting in damage to both wings and the engine firewall. In a separate statement, the pilot reported that the airplane departed ORG with full fuel tanks, less a small amount used during previous maintenance. He stated that the entire flight from ORG to CWF to Deep Lake to CWF, and the accident leg were flown using only fuel from the left fuel tank. The pilot provided a photo of a GPS flight plan that indicated the calculated fuel usage to be about 15.4 gallons. According to the airplane manufacturer, the airplane had a total fuel capacity of 50 gallons (25 gallons in each tank), with about 3 pints of unusable fuel. A first responder to the accident, who holds an airline transport category pilot certificate, examined the airplane shortly after the accident. He stated that he removed the fuel tank caps and observed no fuel in the left fuel tank and full fuel in the right fuel tank. He also examined the fuel selector valve in the cockpit and found it to be positioned for the left fuel tank. He stated that no fuel was present on the ground or leaking from the airplane. During recovery of the airplane about 22 gallons of fuel was drained from the right wing fuel tank and about 3 ounces of fuel was drained from the left wing fuel tank. The airplane's engine was examined after the accident and the starter operated and engaged the engine flywheel. Both magnetos produced spark on all cylinders. The air inlet to the carburetor was clean and unobstructed. Cylinder compression was felt during rotation of the engine on all cylinders. Due to safety concerns arising from the damage that the airplane had incurredan engine test run was not attempted, however, no preimpact anomalies were detected. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4286T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4286T-2018-08-10), registration cancelled 2018-08-10, S/N 28-7205132, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-180 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7205132 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 6939 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Public use - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2014 - Departed: CWF, Lake Charles, LA - Destination: ORG, Orange, TX - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,468 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,434 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CWF ## 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 20140808017059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140808017059A), Aug 8, 2014: Piper PA-28-180, Sulphur, LA, Substantial damage. About 5 minutes after take off the engine stopped. Pilot stated he tried to restart the engine and the starter would not engage. Attempted emergency landing on… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89857. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419555&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419556&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - First Responder's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419557&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=First%20Responder%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419558&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Engine examination notes from FAA (item 6, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20examination%20notes%20from%20FAA-Redacted.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.