# NTSB CHI94LA351: Piper PA-23-160, N5272A, West Chicago, IL, September 30, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 1994, 20:50 local (Sep 30, 1994, 01:50 UTC) - Place: West Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.880592, -88.219848 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8806&lon=-88.2198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9702/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA351 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to use the manual hydraulic pump to lower the landing gear. Factors were the failure of the fuel selector handle, the subsequent fuel starvation, and the pilot's failure to properly crossfeed and restart the left engine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - normal - 1 engine - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - fuel system,selector/valve - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc (contributing factor) - fuel system,cross-feed valve - not activated (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - hydraulic system,pump - no pressure - emergency procedure - not complied with, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER DURING DESCENT. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE ENGINE POWER THE PILOT CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND FEATHERED THE LEFT PROPELLER. HE SAID HE LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE AND OBTAINED SAFE GEAR INDICATIONS DURING THE SINGLE ENGINE APPROACH, BUT DID NOT USE THE EMERGENCY HYDRAULIC PUMP. DURING THE LANDING, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED BOTH AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS WERE NEARLY EMPTY AND THE MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE ABOUT HALF FULL. THE TWO RIVETS WHICH MOUNT THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE HAD FAILED, RENDERING THE SELECTOR INOPERATIVE. FUNCTIONAL TESTS OF THE LANDING GEAR, HYDRAULIC, AND FUEL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE CROSSFEED, REVEALED NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 1994, about 2050 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23-160, N5272A, operated by Superstition Air Service of Mesa, Arizona, sustained substantial damage while landing at the DuPage Airport, West Chicago, Illinois. The commercial pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The personal flight originated at 1845 in St Louis, Missouri, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A VFR flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In his written statement, the pilot reported that he moved the left fuel selector from the auxiliary position to the main position during the descent. A few minutes later, the left engine began surging, then lost power. He unsuccessfully attempted to restore the engine power with the boost pump and crossfeed. The engine surged when the primer was pumped. He shut down the left engine and feathered the left propeller. He reported that during the single engine approach, he lowered the landing gear handle and verified safe gear indications. During a "smooth and normal" landing, the nose gear collapsed at a speed of about 65 miles per hour. The airplane slid to a stop sustaining substantial damage to the lower nose structure. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he did not pump the emergency hydraulic hand pump or activate the emergency extension system. Examination of the airplane revealed that both main fuel tanks were about half full and the auxiliary tanks were nearly empty. Both electric fuel pumps, the crossfeed valve, and the right fuel selector operated normally. The rivets which mount the left fuel selector handle to the floor panel were pulled through the mount which allowed the handle to move freely without actuating the cable or fuel selector valve. A landing gear retraction and extension test revealed no evidence of malfunction of the landing gear or hydraulic systems. The pilot operating handbook for the PA-23-160 specifies in the emergency landing gear extension section "if the engine driven hydraulic pump fails, or the left engine driving the pump, extension of the landing gear or flaps is accomplished by supplying hydraulic pressure with the manual hydraulic pump. With gear or flap control in the desired position, 30-40 strokes of the pump handle will raise or lower the landing gear." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5272A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5272A), registered now, S/N 23-2019, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-2109 - Airframe hours: 5692 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B3B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Superstition Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1994, 25 hours before - Departed: SUS, ST LOUIS, MO - Destination: DPA, IL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DPA, Dupage, runway 1L, 5,100 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,432 total, 14 in this make and model, 1,318 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DPA ## 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 19940929032199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940929032199A), Sep 29, 1994: Piper PA23160, Chicago/West Ch, IL, Substantial damage. Lost left engine during descent. Feathered same. Failed use manual gear extension. Nose folded. Fuel selector failed (-23) fuel selector rivits, mounting the… 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.