# NTSB CHI97LA105: Piper PA-24, N8739P, Elk Falls, KS, April 12, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 1997, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Elk Falls, KS - Coordinates: 37.369647, -96.190696 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3696&lon=-96.1907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10543 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10543/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA105 ## Probable cause fracture of the fuel selector assembly which resulted in fuel starvation. ## 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, cruise - normal - fuel system,selector/valve - fractured (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During cruise flight, the pilot switched tanks from the left main tank to the right auxiliary tank. After switching tanks the pilot said the gauges read full and he felt the detent. The pilot had taken off with 30 gallons of fuel in the left main tank. After approximately 2 hour and 7 minutes, the engine lost power. The pilot said he switched the fuel selector to the right main tank and turned on the electrical fuel pump to try and restart the engine. The pilot was unsuccessful and he landed on a gravel road. The aircraft was substantially damaged. Examination of the fuel selector assembly revealed that the cam was separated from the shaft along the line of the braze joint. The O-ring was also separated and indicated a brittle break oriented on helical planes. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 1997, at 1220 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24, N8739P, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and a forced landing, near Elk Falls, Kansas. The private pilot and three passengers reported no injuries. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated in Cherokee, Iowa, at 1008 with a planned destination of Mineola, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot said that he departed Cherokee, Iowa, with 30 gallons of fuel (full) in the left main tank. After flying for an unspecified time, the pilot said he switched "... fuel tanks from [the] left main to [the] right auxiliary tank." The pilot said that "... all readings and indications were normal (detent felt and quantity gauge read full)." The pilot said that at approximately 1215 cdt the engine lost power. The pilot said he selected alternate air heat, switched the electric fuel pump ON, selected the right main fuel tank with the fuel selector, and adjusted the throttle and mixture for an engine restart. The engine restart was unsuccessful. The pilot said he proceeded "... to the nearest airport at best rate of descent," and chose an off airport landing site on a gravel road. During the landing roll the pilot said the airplane impacted a fence line and trees. The pilot said that the aircraft had damage to both wings, bent propeller blades, broken lower cowl, and scratched and dented fuselage. The pilot also reported that the nose and left main gear separated and the right main gear was bent. Parts from the fuel selector were sent to the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering, Materials Laboratory for analysis. Details of the examination revealed that the fuel selector cam was separated from the shaft along the line of the braze joint. Brazing material was found on the surfaces of the shaft assembly and its respective hole. The O-ring separation contained features indicative of a brittle break, oriented on helical planes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8739P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8739P), registered now, S/N 24-4190, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-720 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (registry code 41546, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4190 - Airframe hours: 3503 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cedar Aircraft, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1996, 36 hours before - Departed: CKP, CHEROKEE, IA - Destination: 3T1, MINEOLA, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 443 total, 140 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PPF, 33 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 19970412005859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970412005859A), Apr 12, 1997: Piper PA24260, Elk Falls, KS, Substantial damage. Lost power enroute after switching fuel tanks. Hit fence and trees trying for gravel road. Fuel selector broke. ## Other investigations on N8739P (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 ATL91LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA135), Jul 16, 1991: Piper PA-24-260 (N8739P), Springfield, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PA-24 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED WHILE EXECUTING A GO-AROUND, RESULTING IN THE STALLING OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PA-24 PILOT'S FAILURE TO VISUALLY DETECT… 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.