# NTSB CEN21LA418: Piper PA-44-180, N740FT, Magnolia, TX, September 12, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 12, 2021, 10:51 local (15:51 UTC) - Place: Magnolia, TX - Coordinates: 30.174651, -95.701116 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1747&lon=-95.7011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103857 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA418 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103857/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103857 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA418 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7104402), [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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7104402), [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 · Inadequate inspection; cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was completing a personal flight in a rented multiengine airplane and reported that during the preflight inspection, the fuel gauges indicated 17 gallons of fuel in each fuel tank. He then visually inspected each tank and confirmed fuel was present. After takeoff, he climbed to 2,000 ft mean sea level and proceeded to a nearby airport where he completed one full stop landing before he departed and proceeded back to the original airport. About 10 minutes into the return flight, the left engine experienced a loss of power, followed by the right engine 5 minutes later. The pilot attempted to execute an emergency landing to a road but struck a tree during the descent and crashed onto a residential driveway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the fuselage. The fuel tanks were not breached during the accident sequence and there was no fuel on the ground near the airplane. A postaccident examination revealed that there was no fuel in either fuel tank, about 4 to 6 oz of fuel was drained from the left carburetor, and there was no fuel in the right carburetor. There were no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The dispatch sheets and discrepancy logs from the five previous flights did not reveal any anomalies with the fuel gauges, fuel system, or fuel consumption. Based on a postaccident fuel calculation, the airplane likely departed with a total of about 14 gallons of fuel and did not have enough fuel to complete the flight. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 2021, at 1051 central daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180 airplane, N740FT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Magnolia, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, the fuel gauges indicated 17 gallons of fuel in both the left and right tanks. He then visually inspected each tank and confirmed fuel was present. After takeoff, he climbed to 2,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and flew about 15 minutes to the destination airport, about 34 miles northwest, where he completed one full stop landing. He departed and proceeded back to the original airport. About 10 minutes into the return flight, the left engine experienced a loss of power, then 5 minutes later the right engine experienced a loss of power. He attempted to execute an emergency landing to a road but struck a tree during the descent. The pilot rented the airplane from a local business and did not fuel the airplane before takeoff. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. The fuel tanks were not breached during the accident sequence and neither tank contained evidence of fuel. There was no evidence of fuel on the ground near the airplane. A mechanic confirmed that there was no fuel found in either fuel tank, about 4 to 6 oz of fuel was drained from the left carburetor and there was no fuel in the right carburetor. There were no preimpact anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The dispatch sheets and discrepancy logs from the five previous flights did not reveal any anomalies with the fuel gauges, fuel system, or fuel consumption. A postaccident fuel consumption calculation was completed, which revealed that the pilot had departed with a total of about 14 gallons of fuel. Based on an average fuel consumption rate of 17 gallons per hour, the airplane would have contained less than 1.5 gallons of fuel at the accident site. The airplane’s manual states that the fuel tanks have 2 gallons of total unusable fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N740FT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N740FT-2023-06-14), registration cancelled 2023-06-14, S/N 44-7995084, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-7995084 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 11700.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming O-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Up And Up Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Up And Up Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 16, 2021 - Departed: 60R, Navasota, TX - Destination: DWH, Houston, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,895 total, 6 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 2 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: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KDWH, 10 nm away - METAR: KDWH 121553Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 29/22 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP194 T02940222 ## 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 20210912015629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210912015629A), Sep 12, 2021: Piper PA-44-180, Magnolia, TX, Substantial damage. N740FT flight with 01 pilot onboard originating from david wayne hooks memorial airport (kdwh), spring, TX, with full stop shutdown and subsequent takeoff from… ## Other investigations on N740FT (1) 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 ERA12LA494](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA494), Aug 1, 2012: Piper PA-44-180 (N740FT), Titusville, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate maintenance servicing and inspection of the nose landing gear, which resulted in the failure of the nose landing gear to lock and its subsequent collapse during landing. ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103857. 107 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829033&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829097&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829317&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement%20-%20N740FT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB investigation summary (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829087&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Investigation%20Summary-Rel.pdf - ADS-B google earth file (item 5, KMZ, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14835010&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=20210912_A9F319_464818343-Rel.kmz - ADS-B tabular data (item 6, XLSX, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829759&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20210912_A9F319_464818343_ADSB-Rel.xlsx - Photos (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Correspondence - airplane information (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 794 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20from%20operator%20-%20aircraft%20hours_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Dispatch sheets and owner's fuel calculation (item 9, PDF, 8 pages, 46.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15174227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=-%20Operator%20fueling%20records%20and%20consumption%20calculations_Redacted-Rel_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook excerpts (item 10, PDF, 4 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829871&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20logbooks_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Right engine examination video (item 11, MP4, 21.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829227&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Right%20engine%20carb%20fuel%20dump%20no%20fuel-Rel.mp4 - Left engine examination video (item 12, MP4, 24.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829803&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Left%20engine%20carb%20fuel%20dump%204%20to%206oz-Rel.mp4 - Airplane manual excerpts (item 13, PDF, 4 pages, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14829706&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20info%20Piper%20PA44%20180%201979%20%261980%20POH-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. --- 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.