CEN23FA360

The pilot was in cruise flight nearing the destination airport when the engine sustained a total loss of engine power. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted power lines and a grassy slope on the left side of a highway. The left main fuel cell and left auxiliary fuel cell on the left wing were breached and could not be functionally tested. The right main fuel cell did not contain any fuel and the right auxiliary fuel cell was full of fuel. The fuel selector valve was set to the right main fuel cell. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not detect any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the pilot shared with a friend that he received a low fuel warning light while operating on the right main fuel cell. The pilot switched to the left main fuel cell; however, engine power did not return so he switched back to the right main fuel cell. Investigators were unable to ascertain what additional steps the pilot may have taken to restore engine power after initially switching to the left main fuel cell. The loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation as there was adequate fuel remaining in the right auxiliary fuel cell.

The airplane was equipped with two main fuel cells and two auxiliary fuel cells. The main fuel cells each held 30 gallons of fuel and the auxiliary cells each held 15 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector valve had five options – left main, left auxiliary, right main, right auxiliary, and off. The airplane was equipped with two main fuel cells and two auxiliary fuel cells. The main fuel cells each held 30 gallons of fuel and the auxiliary cells each held 15 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector valve had five options – left main, left auxiliary, right main, right auxiliary, and off. On August 13, 2023, at about 1250 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7910P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the airplane departed North Texas Regional/Perrin Field (GYI), Sherman, Texas, 1204 and proceeded to Wiley Post Airport (PWA), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Shortly after being handed off from Oklahoma City Approach to Wiley Post Tower, the pilot told tower controllers that he was losing engine rpm and that he was going to make an emergency landing on Interstate 35. During the approach to the interstate, the airplane impacted power lines and skidded off the interstate down a grassy slope along Interstate 235 about 8 nm east of PWA. The airplane was filled with 26.5 gallons of fuel at the Weatherford Stafford Airport (OJA), Weatherford, Oklahoma, on August 10, 2023. According to ADS-B records, the airplane departed OJA on August 10, 2023, and flew direct to PWA, which was about a 20-minute flight. The next flight occurred on the morning of August 13, 2023, when ADS-B records indicated the airplane departed OJA and flew direct to GYI, which was about a one-hour and 10-minute flight. The next flight was the accident flight on the afternoon of August 13, 2023, when the airplane departed GYI for PWA. The airplane was airborne for about 50 minutes when the loss of power occurred. The airplane was not fueled again after it departed OJA on August 10, 2023, and it flew for about 2 hours and 30 minutes after that refueling. After the accident, the pilot shared with a friend that he received a low fuel warning light while operating on the right main fuel cell. The pilot switched to the left main fuel cell; however, engine power did not return so he switched back to the right main fuel cell. Investigators were unable to ascertain what other steps the pilot may have taken to restore engine power before the forced landing. According to the pilot’s family, he passed away on December 23, 2023. power lines and skidded off the interstate down According to a witness traveling northbound on Interstate 235, the airplane impacted power lines that were about 95 ft above ground level. Damage to power lines and ground scars wereconsistent with the airplane flying on a heading of about 348° before it impacted a sloped grassy area on the east side of Interstate 235 just south of Interstate 44. The airplane came to rest upright on a heading of about 150°. All of the primary flight control cables were continuous from the cockpit to each of the flight controls. The propeller, mixture, and throttle controls were found in the full forward position. The left main and left auxiliary fuel cells were crushed, torn, and breached. However, both doors covering the fuel cell filler openings on the left main and left auxiliary cells were closed and latched. There was also a significant amount of fuel blight in the form of brown grass that fanned out from the initial ground scar and was consistent with the fuel escaping from the left main and left auxiliary fuel cells. The right main fuel cell did not have any fuel in it, and the right auxiliary fuel cell was full of fuel (15 gallons). The fuel selector valve was found set to the right main cell. The fuel selector valve moved freely to each detent position. The fuel boost pump switch in the cockpit appeared to be in the “on” position. During the post recovery examination, electrical power was applied to each of the fuel boost pumps and their operation was verified audibly. About 6 ounces of 100 low lead aviation gasoline was drained from the strainer bowl via the fuel sump. The fuel strainer screen was free from blockage. The fuel filter screens for each electric fuel pump were free from blockage. The fuel selector was moved to the “off” position, and the right wing main and right auxiliary fuel cells were filled with water to verify the integrity of the fuel cells. No water was observed leaking from either cell. The fuel selector handle was moved to the right main fuel cell position and then to the right auxiliary fuel cell position and water drained freely from both cells via the fuel strainer where the bowl was removed. Due to impact damage, the engine could not be functionally tested. However, a postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of maintenance records revealed that the airplane had an annual inspection in November 2022. Nothing remarkable was noted during the last inspection.