# NTSB ERA12LA253: Piper PA-28-180, N7309W, Margaret, AL, March 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 2012, 17:53 local (22:53 UTC) - Place: Margaret, AL - Coordinates: 33.670276, -86.486389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6703&lon=-86.4864&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83209 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83209/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83209 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA253 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation. ## 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) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (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. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: 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 private pilot and passenger departed on a local flight. During cruise flight, about 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot selected the other fuel tank. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot landed the airplane on a road, and the airplane struck a ditch. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was devoid of fuel. Fuel was found in the left tank, and it flowed normally when the left tank was selected utilizing the fuel selector valve. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that all of the fuel in the right fuel tank was used, and due to the low altitude fuel from the left tank did not reach the engine for attempted restart before the pilot had to configure the airplane for an off-airport landing. ## Factual narrative On March 24 2012, about 1753 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7309W, experienced a total loss of engine power while maneuvering near Margaret, Alabama. The private pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing onto a nearby road. The pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight had departed from the Talladega Municipal Airport (ASN), Talladega, Alabama about 1720. According to the pilot, while in cruise flight about 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine had a total loss of power. He then switched fuel tanks, turned on the fuel pumps, and attempted to restart the engine. The engine did not restart. He subsequently landed on a public road and encountered a ditch during the landing roll. After exiting the airplane no fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tanks; however, a small amount of fuel was observed leaking from the engine area after the fire department arrived on scene. Initial examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane had landed on a public road and during the landing roll encountered a 6 foot ditch and came to rest, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. The right fuel tank was devoid of fuel and the left fuel tank had approximately 15 gallons of fuel. With the "LEFT" tank selected, fuel flowed without hindrance through the fuel selector valve from the left wing tank. The electric fuel pump was tested and operated. A follow up exam was conducted and engine continuity was confirmed from propeller hub to the rear accessory pad on the engine. The airplane was a single-engine, four-place, low wing monoplane of all metal construction, with fixed tricycle landing gear. It was comprised of a steel tube fuselage and an aluminum frame wing. According to photographs provided by the FAA, it had two 25 gallon fuel tanks; one located in each wing and was equipped with a Lycoming O-360-A3A engine. According to the pilot, the airplane had an annual inspection on September 3, 2010; he further reported that after the local fire department arrived he had switched the fuel tank selector valve to "OFF". According to the Airplane Flight Manual, "Performance Charts," specifically "Glide Performance," at the reported altitude, the airplane's glide distance in statue miles was about 3 miles. The manual also revealed that fuel consumption, assuming "best economy" cruise would have been approximately 9 gallons per hour. It could not be accurately determined if "best economy" cruise was utilized by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7309W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7309W-2017-09-07), registration cancelled 2017-09-07, S/N 28-1167, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - 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: 28-1167 - Airframe hours: 3684 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2010 - Departed: ASN, Talladega, AL - Destination: ASN, Talladega, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 309 total, 59 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: BHM, 16 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 20120324006679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120324006679A), Mar 24, 2012: Piper PA-28-180, Margaret, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot departed from talladega airport (kasn) for a local flight. After about thirty minutes the engine quit and the pilot selected the left tank. After several… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83209. 11.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Birmingham Weather (item 2, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Birmingham%20Weather-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record: Email from FAA [Excerpt] (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%3A%20Email%20from%20FAA%20%5BExcerpt%5D-Master.PDF - Piper Cruise Performance Chart from the Airplane Flight Manual (item 4, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Piper%20Cruise%20Performance%20Chart%20from%20the%20Airplane%20Flight%20Manual-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Front View of Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Front%20View%20of%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Right Side of Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Right%20Side%20of%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Fuel Selector Valve (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375159&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Fuel%20Selector%20Valve%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-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. --- 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.