# NTSB DEN07LA166: Piper PA-28R-201T, N38765, Taos, NM, September 30, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2007, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Taos, NM - Coordinates: 36.454723, -105.669998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4547&lon=-105.6700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66781/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA166 ## Probable cause The unsecured B-nut fitting to the fuel return line which allowed for fuel spillage, an engine fire, and fuel exhaustion that led to the engine's subsequent failure. a factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's intentional wheels up landing in rough, uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, cruise - fuel system,line fitting - disconnected (cause) - fluid,fuel - leak (cause) - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Wheels up landing, emergency descent/landing - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot had just taken off and was in a climb heading southbound when he noticed a slight fuel smell followed by white smoke coming out of the right side of the dash. The pilot turned back toward the airport. Flames began coming from the right side of the airplane's cowling and then the engine lost power. The pilot performed a wheels up landing in rough terrain. The fire persisted as he evacuated the airplane. The airplane continued to burn until fire had consumed all but the airplane's engine, wing tips and empennage. An examination of the airplane showed a b-nut on the fuel return line had become unscrewed. No other anomalies with the airplane were found. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2007, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, N38765, piloted by a private pilot, caught fire during departure from the Taos Regional Airport (SKX), Taos, New Mexico. While attempting to return to the airport, the airplane's engine lost power and the pilot subsequently performed a wheels up landing one mile south of the airport. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot was not injured. The flight departed Taos at 0815 and was en route to Nogales, Arizona. The pilot reported that he had taken off from SKX and was in a climb heading southbound when he noticed a slight fuel smell followed by white smoke coming out of the right side of the dash. The pilot said he turned back for the airport. Flames began coming from the right side of the cowling and then the engine lost power. The pilot performed a wheels up landing in rough terrain. The fire persisted as he evacuated the airplane. The airplane continued to burn until fire had consumed all but the airplane's engine, wing tips and empennage. An examination of the airplane showed a b-nut on the fuel return line was unscrewed. No other anomalies with the airplane were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38765](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38765-2009-11-19), registration cancelled 2009-11-19, S/N 28R-7703270, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-201T - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7703270 - Engines: Lycoming TSIO-360-F 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James R. Grainger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007 - Departed: SKX, Taos, NM - Destination: Nogales, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,904 total, 294 in this make and model, 1,904 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: SKX, 1 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 20070930826409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070930826409A), Sep 30, 2007: Piper PA28R201T, Taos, NM, Destroyed. (-23) On September 30, 2007 at approximately 0920 local time, the pilot of N38765, a Piper model PA28R-201T single engine turbo-charged airplane made an… ## Other investigations on N38765 (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 ATL84LA284](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA284), Sep 21, 1984: Piper PA-28R-201T (N38765), Henderson, KY, substantial damage 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.