# NTSB CEN17LA166: Piper PA 31-350, N3548J, Covington, LA, April 23, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 2017, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Covington, LA - Coordinates: 30.557777, -90.029998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5578&lon=-90.0300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 26, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95053 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95053/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95053 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA166 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of power to both engines due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103110), [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-31-350, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot departed with full fuel tanks for a multileg, cross-country flight. The pilot estimated that his total flight time for the first two legs of the trip was 4 hours 15 minutes, and he landed at two different airports but did not obtain fuel. About 25 to 30 minutes into the last leg of the flight, the left engine lost power. Shortly thereafter, the right engine lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the outboard portion of the left wing and aileron hit a tree and separated from the airplane. About 1 to 2 quarts of fuel were recovered from the entire fuel system. An examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that both engines lost total power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper fuel planning. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 2017, about 1800 central daylight time, a Piper PA 31-350 twin-engine airplane, N3548J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Covington, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The cross-country flight departed Concordia Parish Airport (0R4), Vidalia, Louisiana, and was en route to Slidell Airport (ASD), Slidell, Louisiana.According to a written statement submitted by the pilot, all four fuel tanks were filled full of fuel. He departed ASD at 1130 and flew to Destin Executive Airport (DTS), Destin, Florida, at an estimated time en route of 2 hours and 30 minutes. He then flew from DTS to 0R4 at an estimated time en route of 1 hour and 45 minutes. The pilot did not obtain fuel at either DTS or 0R4. According to the pilot, about 25 to 30 minutes after departure, on the final leg of the trip, the left engine lost power. About 10 minutes later, the right engine lost power. The pilot landed the airplane in an open field. During the landing roll, the outboard portion of the left wing and the left aileron separated when the left wing hit a tree. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident, when sumping the fuel he observed a slow, slight stream of fuel from all of the fuel sumps. Less than an ounce of fuel was recovered from each sump. An examination of the airframe, engines, and related systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The recovery team recovered about 1 to 2 quarts of fuel from the entire fuel system. The fuel tanks were otherwise empty. The Pilot Operating Handbook for the Piper PA 31-350 stated that the airplane had 182 gallons of useable fuel. Depending on airplane weight, flight altitude, temperature, and engine power settings, the fuel burn ranges between 26.3 and 43.6 gallons of fuel per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3548J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3548J), registered now, S/N 31-8052027, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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: 31-8052027 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 7413.5 - Engines: Textron Lycoming TIO-540 J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating; Textron Lycoming LTIO-540 J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 2016 - Departed: 0R4, Vidalia, LA - Destination: KASD, Slidell, LA - Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,263 total, 739.5 in this make and model, 652.4 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KHDC, 23 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 20170423007459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170423007459A), Apr 23, 2017: Piper PA-31-350, Covington, LA, Substantial damage. The airman reported that he and a passenger had topped off the aircraft with fuel prior to departing slidell, LA (asd) on an IFR flight plan at 1300 local and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95053. 894 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 602 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Recovery Team (item 4, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Recovery%20Team-Master.PDF - PA 31-350 Pilot Operating Handbook Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452600&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=PA%2031-350%20Pilot%20Operating%20Handbook%20Excerpts-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.