# NTSB ERA10CA417: Piper PA-25-260, N254AB, St. Petersburg, FL, August 12, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 12, 2010, 18:43 local (22:43 UTC)
- Place: St. Petersburg, FL
- Coordinates: 27.758888, -82.622779 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7589&lon=-82.6228&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 11, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76947
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA417
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76947/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76947
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA417

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he departed with the airplane's fuel tank full (75 gallons) for the local banner towing flight. He flew for about 3 hours and 30 minutes and then initiated a return to the airport. During the return flight, at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet, the airplane's engine lost power. Just prior to the power loss, while the airplane was in a climb, the pilot noted that the fuel gauge indicated 30 gallons of fuel remained. The pilot released the banner and performed a forced landing on a road. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed approximately 8-10 ounces of fuel remained in the single main fuel tank. The main fuel feed line at the bottom of the fuel tank fuel valve contained a few ounces of fuel. The fuel tank was filled with 30 gallons of fuel to test the accuracy of the fuel gauge, which read 33 gallons of fuel. The engine was test run on the airframe. It started and ran at full power with no anomalies noted. According to the airplane's Operating Handbook, the engine burns an average of 14-16 gallons of fuel per hour, at power settings likely used by the pilot. The fueler who fueled the airplane stated that he filled the airplane to a capacity of 68 gallons of fuel, which is what the pilot specifically requested. The examination revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he departed with full fuel (75 gallons) in the airplane, for the local banner towing flight. He flew for about 3 hours and 30 minutes, and then initiated a return to the airport. During the return flight, at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet, the airplane's engine lost power. Just prior to the power loss, while the airplane was in a climb, the pilot noted that the fuel gauge indicated 30 gallons of fuel remained. The pilot released the banner and performed a forced landing to a road. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation (FAA) inspector revealed approximately 8-10 ounces of fuel in the single main fuel tank. The main fuel feed line at the bottom of the fuel tank fuel valve contained a "few ounces" of fuel. The fuel tank was filled with 30 gallons of fuel to test the accuracy of the fuel gauge, which read 33 gallons of fuel. The engine was test run on the airframe. It started and ran at full power with no anomalies noted. According to the Piper PA-25 Pilot Operating Handbook, the airplane's engine burned an average of 14-16 gallons of fuel per hour, at a power setting of 24 inches of manifold pressure and 2400 RPM. The fueler who fueled the airplane stated he filled the airplane to a capacity of 68 gallons of fuel, which is what the pilot specifically requested.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N254AB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-260
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-7556048
- Airframe hours: 5472
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-G1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Banner tow, Part 91
- Operator: Aerial Banners Inc
- Registered owner: Aerial Banners Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 20, 2010
- Departed: SPG, St. Petersburg, FL
- Destination: SPG, St. Petersburg, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 17, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 488 total, 35 in this make and model, 322 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: SPG, 5 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 20100812042939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100812042939A), Aug 12, 2010: Piper PA-25-260, St. Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. On August 12, 2010 at approximately 18:43 EDT a Piper PA-25-260, N254AB, s/n 25-75566048, registered to aerial banners inc but being operated by tampa aerial…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76947. 7.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Flight Path (provided by the pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Path%20(provided%20by%20the%20pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Wing damage (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Wing%20damage%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- FAA Statement (item 4, .PDF, 441 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336221&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Fueler Statement and Receipt (item 5, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fueler%20Statement%20and%20Receipt-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Interview (item 6, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF
- Fuel Consumption Chart (excerpt from PA-25 POH) (item 7, .PDF, 379 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Consumption%20Chart%20(excerpt%20from%20PA-25%20POH)-Master.PDF

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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