# NTSB CHI87LA221: Piper PA-28-181, N7688F, Troy, MI, September 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1987, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Troy, MI
- Location: 42.6056° N, 83.1499° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Troy, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6056&lon=-83.1499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13833
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87LA221
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13833/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA221

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

DRG THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DMGD DRG A FORCED LNDG WEST OF THE ARPT. DRG AN EXAM OF THE ACFT, 20 TO 25 GAL OF AVGAS WAS FND IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK; HOWEVER, THE RGT TANK HAD ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL REMAINING. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION & NO FUEL WAS FND IN THE CARBURETOR OR FUEL LINE TO THE ENG. ALSO, THE FUEL SYS WAS INTACT & NO LEAKS WERE FND IN THE SYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7688F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7688F), registered now, S/N 28-7790219, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7790219
- Airframe hours: 3159
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Romeo Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Max-A-Million, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 19, 1987, 39 hours before
- Destination: D98, ROMEO, MI
- Airport: 3BB, Big Beaver, runway 27, 2,400 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 18; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 344 total, 60 in this make and model, 231 as pilot in command, 86 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Observed at: DET, 10 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 19870925056609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870925056609A), Sep 25, 1987: Piper PA28181, Troy, MI, Substantial damage. Engine quit on initial climbout due to fuel starvation. H it ditch on landing. Selected off when a tank ran dry.

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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