# NTSB CEN20LA018: Piper PA32, N7703J, Houston, TX, November 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 9, 2019, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 30.079999, -95.559997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0800&lon=-95.5600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100544 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100544/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100544 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA018 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to select the proper fuel tank before departure, which resulted in 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-32-260, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-260, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103206), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a local flight and shortly after takeoff, the engine lost all power. The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field. About 10 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left main fuel tank; the left wingtip fuel tank was impact-damaged and was empty. Both right wing fuel tanks were empty and neither tank was impact damaged or compromised. The fuel selector valve was in the right main tank position. After recovery, the engine was plumbed to an external fuel source; the engine started and ran without hesitation at various power settings. There were no mechanical anomalies with the engine or related systems that would preclude normal operation. It is likely that the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during takeoff due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to select the proper fuel tank. ## Factual narrative On November 9, 2019, about 0945 central standard time, a Piper PA-32 airplane, N7703J, lost engine power shortly after takeoff from David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH), Houston, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff from runway 35L the engine lost power. The pilot turned the airplane to the right, back toward the airport; due to the altitude at the time of the loss of engine power, he was unable to make it to the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed during the forced landing to a field. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. During the airplane recovery, about 10 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left main fuel tank; the left wingtip fuel tank was impact damaged and was found empty. Both right wing fuel tanks were empty and neither tank was compromised. The fuel selector valve was selected to the right main tank. After recovery, the engine was plumbed to an external fuel source; the engine started and ran without hesitation at various power settings. Further examination of the engine and related systems revealed that there were no mechanical anomalies that would preclude normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7703J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7703J-2020-02-13), registration cancelled 2020-02-13, S/N 32-1070, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32 (260) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-1070 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5239.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 4, 2018 - Departed: DWH, Houston, TX - Destination: DWH, Houston, TX - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Memorial Air - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, waiver time limited special; last flight review September 16, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 11,218 total, 2 in this make and model, 6,388 as pilot in command, 164 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: KDWH, 25 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 20191109023169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191109023169A), Nov 9, 2019: Piper PA-32-260, Spring, TX, Substantial damage. On 11/09/2019 around 0930, [privacy data omitted] [privacy data omitted] took off out david wayne hooks (dwh) headed for navasota, TX. In N7703J (PA-32). About… ## Other investigations on N7703J (2) 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. - [NTSB MKC88LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA060), Mar 6, 1988: Piper PA-32-260 (N7703J), Mound City, MO, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA75DLA39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA75DLA39), Apr 27, 1975: Piper PA-32 (N7703J), Gainesville, FL, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100544. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481745&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481746&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Accident Report Photographs (item 3, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481747&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.