CEN19LA304

The student pilot was departing on a local solo flight. Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power, and the pilot turned toward the closest available field and set up for landing. As she flared for landing, the engine momentarily regained power. The airplane climbed 100 ft, which allowed the pilot to turn left, clear a tree line, and continue toward the runway. The engine lost power again, and the pilot glided the airplane toward the airport, touching down in dirt and grass short of the runway. The nose landing gear separated, and the airplane slid across the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that both fuel tanks were full, and the throttle and mixture controls were still attached. Fuel drained from the carburetor bowl and gascolator was light blue and contained no debris or water. The electric boost pump operated normally. The fuel supply line to the engine was removed and fuel flowed normally when the left tank was selected. When the right tank was selected, only a small amount of fuel would flow. The right tank was the tank the pilot had selected for takeoff. The fuel selector valve was difficult to move. When it was moved, it traveled past the right tank detent, closing the valve to the right tank, and resulting in a loss of fuel flow. Although the selector handle indicated the right tank had been selected, the valve was misaligned, thus starving the engine of fuel and resulting in the loss of power.

On September 6, 2019, about 1145 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28D-180, N6595J, lost engine power after takeoff from Mid-Way Regional Airport (JWY), Midlothian/Waxahachie, Texas. The pilot made a forced landing back on the runway. The student pilot was not injured, but the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the underside of the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. According to the pilot's accident report, she took off on runway 18. About 400 ft above the ground the engine lost power. The pilot turned left towards the closest available field and set up for landing. As she flared for landing, the engine momentarily regained power. The airplane climbed about 100 ft which allowed the pilot to turn left, clear a tree line, and continue toward the runway on a westerly heading. The engine lost power again and the pilot glided the airplane to the airport at a right angle to the runway and touched down in the dirt and grass short of the east side of the runway. On touchdown, the nose gear separated, and the airplane slid across the runway, coming to a stop just outside of the runway lights. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot had just purchased fuel at a nearby airport and the fuel tanks were full. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator responded to the scene. His examination revealed the throttle and mixture controls were still attached, and the engine was unremarkable. Fuel drained from the carburetor bowl and gascolator was light blue and contained no debris or water. The electric boost pump operated normally. The fuel supply line to the engine was removed and when the left tank was selected, fuel flowed normally. When the right tank was selected, only a small amount of fuel would flow. The right tank was the tank the pilot had selected for takeoff. The FAA inspector was later queried as to the results of his examination. He found the fuel selector valve (Piper part number 491-947) was difficult to move. When it was moved, it would go past the right tank detent. This closed the valve to the right tank, causing a loss of fuel flow. Although the selector handle indicated the right tank had been selected, the valve was misaligned.