# NTSB DFW08LA130: Piper PA-22-108, N4515Z, Opelousas, LA, May 3, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 2, 2008, 19:00 local (May 3, 2008, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Opelousas, LA - Coordinates: 30.519283, -92.07946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5193&lon=-92.0795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Piper Aircraft, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67937/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA130 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to starvation of the right fuel tank and the inability to select the left fuel tank. Contributing to airplane damage was the hidden obstruction in the field selected for the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: hidden/submerged object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was maneuvering around weather, destined for his home airport, when the engine lost power due to exhaustion of the right fuel tank. While attempting to change from the right tank to the left tank the fuel selector became impeded by a loose screw on the fuel placard. The pilot attempted to switch tanks several times before committing to a forced landing. The pilot successfully landed the airplane in a wheat field. During the landing roll out, the nose gear contacted a rut resulting in damage to the nose gear and subsequently allowed the airplane to nose over coming to rest in the inverted position. ## Factual narrative On May 2, 2008, at approximately 1900 central daylight time, a single-engine Piper PA-22-108 airplane, experienced a total loss of engine power and was substantially damaged during the forced landing roll out. The commerical pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The newly acquired airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 92 nautical mile cross country flight originated from the Mc Comb Airport (MCB), Mc Comb, Mississippi, and was destined for the St. Landry Parish Airport (OPL), Opelousas, Louisiana. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he had purchased the airplane the day prior and was flying back to his home airport. On the final leg to his destination, the airplane's engine experienced a total loss of power after the pilot depleted fuel in the right fuel tank. The pilot attempted to switch from the right fuel tank to the left tank. The pilot stated that the fuel selector would not engage the left tank detent. After several attempts to seat the fuel selector in the left tank position the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a wheat field. During landing roll, the nose gear impacted a rut which damaged the nose gear and resulted in the airplane coming to rest in the inverted position. The pilot was able to egress the airplane without assistance. The pilot walked several hours before reaching a road and receiving assistance from a passing motorist. The airplane was examined by the NTSB with the assistance of a technical representative from Piper Aircraft. All position detents could be identified from the fuel selector and the positions were verified from both wing tanks to the engine fuel line. Movement from the right tank to the left tank required a clockwise rotation which was impeded by a round head screw that was found slightly raised from the flush position. The screw secured the fuel selector placard to the side of the cockpit and when properly seated allowed for unrestricted movement of the fuel selector to all positions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4515Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4515Z-2017-06-08), registration cancelled 2017-06-08, S/N 22-8017, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-108 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-8017 - Airframe hours: 4387.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2008 - Departed: MCB, MC COMB, MS - Destination: OPL, OPELOUSAS, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: LFT 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.