# NTSB CEN19LA304: Piper PA-28D-180, N6595J, Midlothian, TX, September 6, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 6, 2019, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Midlothian, TX - Coordinates: 32.46389, -96.920829 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4639&lon=-96.9208&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 100205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100205/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100205 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA304 ## Probable cause Misalignment of the fuel selector valve when the right fuel tank was selected, which restricted fuel flow and resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6595J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6595J-2020-06-17), registration cancelled 2020-06-17, S/N 28-4899, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28D-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: 28-4899 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4204 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2019, 56 hours before - Departed: JWY, Midlothian/Waxa, TX - Destination: JWY, Midlothian/Waxa, TX - Airport: JWY, Mid-Way Regional, runway 18, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 99 total, 53 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: JWY ## 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 20190906017119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190906017119A), Sep 6, 2019: Piper PA-28-180, Midlothian, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft glided to the airfield at a right angle to the runway and touched down in the dirt/grass just short of the east side of runway. On touchdown nose gear… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100205. 2.1 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Master.PDF - Record of E-Mail Exchanges (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20E-Mail%20Exchanges-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation, NTSB Investigator Craif Hatch (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation,%20NTSB%20Investigator%20Craif%20Hatch-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 4, .PDF, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477120&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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.