# NTSB ERA10LA031: Piper PA28, N7220W, Brooksville, FL, October 25, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 2009, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Brooksville, FL
- Coordinates: 28.330278, -82.496391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3303&lon=-82.4964&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA / FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74956
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74956/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74956
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA031

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning.

## Findings

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

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane was 10 minutes into the flight and had just reached a cruise altitude of 2,800 feet above mean sea level when the engine lost power. After unsuccessfully attempting to restart the engine, the pilot attempted a forced landing at an airport off to his left. Approaching the airport, the airplane’s right wing hit a tree and the airplane impacted the ground 400 yards short of the runway. The airplane sustained damage to the wing, fuselage, and propeller. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector observed 1/4 gallon of fuel in the right wing fuel tank and no fuel in the left wing tank. There was no evidence of fuel leakage in flight or at the accident site. The wreckage recovery crew reported that they were able to drain 3 quarts of fuel from the airplane. A postaccident engine run was conducted with the engine producing power at high and low rpm settings.

## Factual narrative

On October 25, 2009, at 1410 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7220W, collided with a tree while making a force landing following a loss of engine power near Pilot Country Airport (X05), Brooksville, Florida. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, from Hidden Lake Airport (FA40), New Port Richey, Florida, to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida. The airplane was operated by an individual, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to top off the airplane with fuel at ZPH, and that during his preflight inspection he visually checked the fuel levels in each tank, observing that one tank had more fuel than the other. From his calculations based on the prior 25 hours of flight time, which was his total time in the recently purchased airplane, the fuel consumption was 8.5 to 9 gallons per hour. Based on those calculations, the pilot believed a total of 12 gallons of usable fuel were on board the airplane before its departure. The pilot also recalled that the airplane was cruising at an altitude of 2,800 feet above mean sea level (msl) and about 10 minutes into the flight when, without warning, the engine quit running. The pilot elected to land at the X05, which was off to his left. The pilot attempted two restarts, switching fuel tank positions in the process; however, the engine never restarted. He could not recall if the propeller rotated during the restart attempts. He then maneuvered the airplane to land on runway 36 at X05, but the airplane’s right wing collided with a tree. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground left-wing-low and nose-low about 400 yards short of the airport. Both occupants exited the airplane and called for assistance. The pilot stated that the airplane was topped off on October 19, 2009. The airplane could hold a total of 50 gallons, of which, 2 were unusable. He had flown a total of eight flights of 30 minutes each between FA40 and Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL), Lakeland, Florida since the top off. The first responders reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector on scene that there was no visual indication or odor of fuel at the accident site. The FAA inspector observed about 1/4 gallon of fuel in the right wing tank and no fuel in the left wing fuel tank at the wreckage site. The fuel gascolator separated from the airplane and the fuel tank selector was in the right fuel tank position. The wreckage recovery crew reported that they collected a total of 3 quarts of aviation fuel from the airplane during the recovery process. An engine run was conducted at the salvage recovery facility where the wreckage was taken with National Transportation Safety Board oversight. The engine was attached to the airframe, minus thewings, and secured on the transportation trailer. The propeller and flywheel were replaced with serviceable components due to impact damage. A fuel supply was connected to the engine’s fuel system. The engine started and produced power at high and low rpm settings. The airplane’s Type Certificate Data Sheets makes reference to a fuel capacity of 50 gallons usable and of those, 2 gallons are unusable. The Textron Lycoming, 5th edition, Operator’s Manual, for the O-360 and associated model engines makes reference to a fuel consumption of 10.5 gallons per hour at a 75% power setting

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7220W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7220W-2012-08-21), registration cancelled 2012-08-21, S/N 28-1035, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (180)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-I035
- Airframe hours: 2913
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 2009, 22 hours before
- Departed: FA40, New Port Richey, FL
- Destination: ZPH, Zephyrhills, FL
- Airport: X05, Pilot Country Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 16, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 868 total, 25 in this make and model, 741 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KBKV, 9 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 20091025857439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091025857439A), Oct 25, 2009: Piper PA28180, Spring Hill, FL, Destroyed. On October 25, 2009 at approximtely 1410 EDT, a Piper PA-28-180 (N7220W) crashed into a field located on the north side of the pilot country airport in pasco…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74956. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 606 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331618&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Reports from Local Agencies: Pasco County Sheriff's Office Report. (item 2, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%3A%20Pasco%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20Report.-Redacted.PDF
- Reports from Federal Agencies: Federal Aviation Administration Inspector Statement. (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331620&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%20Statement.-Redacted.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Record of Conversation With Pilot. (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331677&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20With%20Pilot.-Redacted.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Engine Run-up Notes. (item 5, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331622&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Engine%20Run-up%20Notes.-Master.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Excerpts From Lycoming's Operator's Manual. (item 6, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpts%20From%20Lycoming%27s%20Operator%27s%20Manual.-Master.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Excerpts From the Airplane's Type Certificate Data Sheets. (item 7, .PDF, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpts%20From%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Type%20Certificate%20Data%20Sheets.-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 8, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 9, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF
- Passenger Statement (item 10, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337658&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.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.

---
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.