# NTSB CEN20LA290: Piper PA22, N4816A, Loveland, OH, July 18, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 18, 2020, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Loveland, OH
- Coordinates: 39.267501, -84.26583 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2675&lon=-84.2658&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: 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 FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101622
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA290
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101622/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101622
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA290

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel indication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Before the pilot's departure on a cross-country flight, he added 7.5 gallons of fuel to each wing fuel tank. The pilot reported that before adding fuel, both fuel gauges read ¼ tank. About an hour and half after departure, the engine lost power, had a momentary gain of power, and then lost power again. The pilot selected a road for a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted several mailboxes and a light pole before coming to stop in a residential yard Examination of the airplane found substantial damage to the left wing, damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, and right-side engine cowling. The right-wing fuel tank was then drained and about 5.5 gallons of fuel was recovered, the left-wing fuel tank did not contain any useable fuel. The left fuel gauge read about ¼ and the right fuel gauge read zero. The examination did not confirm the accuracy of the gauges or if the wires were swapped from the left and right fuel tanks. Fuel was added to right wing fuel tank, and the engine started. The engine was operated from idle, to a high power setting, with no abnormalities noted. The pilot reported on the NTSB Form 6120.1, that he thought the reason for the engine failure was due to fuel exhaustion. With fuel remaining in the right-wing fuel tank, the loss of engine power is consistent with fuel starvation.

## Factual narrative

On July 18, 2020, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22 airplane, N4816A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Loveland, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, before adding fuel, both fuel gauges read ¼ tank and he added about 7.5 gallons to each tank, for an additional 15 gallons of fuel. He then departed the Wadsworth Municipal Airport (3G3), Wadsworth, Ohio, en route to the Cincinnati Municipal Airport-Lunken Field (LUK), Lunken, Ohio. About an hour and half after departure, the engine lost power, had a momentary gain of power, and then lost power again. The pilot selected a road for a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted several mailboxes and a light pole before coming to stop in a residential yard. The pilot reported that he typically switches fuel tanks every 10-15 minutes but did not recall if he did it on this flight. He also did not switch fuel tanks after the initial loss of engine power. Examination of the airplane found substantial damage to the left wing, damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, and right-side engine cowling. The fuel selector was in the off position. The right-wing fuel tank was then drained and about 5.5 gallons of fuel was recovered, the left-wing fuel tank did not contain any useable fuel. The carburetor float bowl was checked and no contaminates were found. The left fuel gauge read about ¼ and the right fuel gauge read zero. The examination did not confirm the accuracy of the gauges or if the wires were swapped from the left and right fuel tanks. During the examination, fuel was added to right wing fuel tank, and the engine started. The engine was operated from idle to a high power setting with no abnormalities noted. The pilot reported on the NTSB Form 6120.1 that he thought the reason for the engine failure was due to fuel exhaustion.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4816A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4816A), registered now, S/N 22-3969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22 (150)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-3969
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 2020
- Departed: 3G3, Wadsworth, OH
- Destination: KLUK, Lunken, OH
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; last flight review April 30, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 528 total, 168 in this make and model, 383 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KLUK

## 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 20200718010959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200718010959A), Jul 18, 2020: Piper PA-22-150, Loveland, OH, Substantial damage. On Saturday, July 18, 2020, at approximately 1632 EDT, a Piper pacer PA22-150 aircraft, registration number N4816A, was involved in an accident when it crashed…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101622. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10100698&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 511 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10100532&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf
- FAA interview notes (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10099375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N4816A%20Accident%20Investigation%20Notes-Rel.pdf
- Mechanic report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10100523&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mechanic_Redacted-Rel.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.

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