# NTSB CHI93LA235: Piper PA-28-235, N8633W, Bloom, KS, July 6, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1993, 19:30 local (Jul 6, 1993, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Bloom, KS
- Location: 37.4864° N, 99.8962° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bloom, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4864&lon=-99.8962&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9229
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA235
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9229/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA235

## Probable cause

improper refueling by a person or persons  unknown.  A factor was deteriorated fuel.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - deteriorated (contributing factor)
  - refueling - improper, unknown (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED  A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  A FORCED  LANDING WAS PERFORMED AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE OCCURRED ON TOUCHDOWN. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE  REVEALED DETERIORATED FUEL IN TANKS.   SOURCE OF THE FUEL WAS UNDETERMINED.

## Factual narrative

On July 5, 1993, at 1930 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235, N8633W, registered to Charles W. Legan of Ulysses, Kansas, and operated by a private rated pilot, experienced a loss of engine power and conducted a forced landing in a field near Bloom, Kansas.  The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with the terrain.  The pilot reported no injuries.  The personal flight was being conducted under provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions.  No flight plan was on file.  The flight departed Liberal, Kansas, at 1830, with the intended destination of Ulysses, Kansas.

The pilot indicated in his written statement that he felt that the mixture control arm contributed to the accident.

A post accident examination revealed that the nose landing gear had collapsed during impact with the terrain and had damaged the mixture cable.  A written statement by a mechanic who examined the airplane is attached to this report.  The mechanic found no mechanical anomalies; however, he stated that the fuel in the tanks appeared to be a mix of av-gas and automotive fuel.  He described the fuel as being free of contamination; however, "had a cloudy, milky white appearance."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8633W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8633W-1996-11-06), registration cancelled 1996-11-06, S/N 2810148 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-10148
- Airframe hours: 3889
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Legan, Charles W.
- Registered owner: Legan, Charles W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 1993, 76 hours before
- Departed: LBL, LIBERAL, KS
- Destination: ULS, ULYSSES, KS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,360 total, 63 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DDC, 65 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 19930705022319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930705022319A), Jul 5, 1993: Piper PA28235, Bloom, KS, Substantial damage. Engine quit en route. Nose gear collapsed on forced landing. Auto fuel and avgas in tanks. Cloudy milky white fuel.

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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