CEN21LA193

The student was turning from base to final in the airport traffic pattern when the engine lost total power. The student transferred control of the airplane to the instructor; the airplane sustained substantial damage during the subsequent forced landing to an open field. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies. The fuel selector handle was found near one of the two OFF detent positions; however, the position of the fuel selector at the time of the loss of power could not be determined. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

On April 17, 2021, about 1950 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane, N2973R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McKinney, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. While turning from base to final during the second traffic pattern iteration, the engine lost total power. The student transferred the flight controls to the instructor. After the confirming the total loss of engine power, the instructor reported he initiated the “memorized emergency checklist.” The instructor stated that the propeller was turning the whole time. He stated that he attempted to restore engine power, notified the tower controller of the emergency, and performed a forced landing to an open field. The student reported that he did not see the instructor reach down toward the fuel selector with his left hand, and the only item the flight instructor touched with his right hand was the throttle. The student reported that he performed the landing, as the instructor “passed out.” The student was able to egress from the airplane after it came to rest, and he found the instructor was laying over his seat. The instructor came to briefly and then passed out again. The student then contacted first responders. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not find any anomalies. The fuel selector valve remained intact. The fuel selector valve was located on the lower left cockpit sidewall. A flat metal disc labeled with the selector handle detent positions remained attached to the sidewall with a screw and the selector handle remained installed on the valve shaft. The selector handle was near one of the two OFF detent positions. The airplane was not equipped with the fuel selector valve cover or handle mentioned in Piper Aircraft Service Bulletin (SB) 840A, Fuel Selector Valve Cover Replacement. The SB describes its purpose, and states: To announce the availability of a new fuel selector valve cover assembly and mating handle, which reduces the possibility of pilot mismanagement of the fuel system through inadvertent selection to the “OFF” position, resulting in power interruption or stoppage. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was completed 11 days before the accident. There was no record of an annual inspection in the previous 9 years. The airplane’s tachometer hour meter had only accumulated 0.2 hours since the annual inspection 9 years prior.