# NTSB ERA13LA110: Piper PA-28R-180, N3898T, Winder, GA, January 12, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 12, 2013, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Winder, GA
- Coordinates: 33.982776, -83.667503 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9828&lon=-83.6675&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 23, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86008
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86008/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA110

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to a cracked fuel pump line fitting O-ring seal at the inlet to the engine driven fuel pump. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the aircraft operator to comply with the engine manufacturer’s recommended time interval for overhaul.

## Findings

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

- [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md)
- [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102809), [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: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102809), [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-28R-180, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While in the airport traffic pattern, the airplane’s engine lost all power. Subsequently, the flight instructor attempted to glide to a runway. The airplane touched down on the runway but was not aligned and traveled off the right side into a bog. Following the accident, the engine was started, but it only ran for about 10 seconds and then lost all power again. Further examination revealed that, when the engine ran briefly, fuel leaked from the inlet side of the engine-driven fuel pump due to a cracked fuel pump line fitting O-ring seal. The airplane's most recent annual inspection had been completed about 2 months before the accident. At that time, the engine had accumulated about 1,578 hours since its last overhaul about 16 years before the accident, which exceeded the engine manufacturer’s recommended time interval for overhaul of every 2,000 hours or 12 years, whichever came first. The airplane had been operated for about 15 hours since its most recent annual inspection; however, a cracked O-ring seal might not be detected during an annual inspection if the engine was not leaking fuel at that time.

## Factual narrative

On January 12, 2013, about 1500 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N3898T, operated by Flight School of Gwinnett Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a bog, following a total loss of engine power during approach to Barrow County Airport (WDR), Winder, Georgia. The flight instructor, private pilot and a passenger were not injured. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Gwinnett County Airport (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia, about 1430. The flight instructor stated that the airplane was in the airport traffic pattern at WDR, on a left downwind leg for landing on runway 23. Per the Before Landing checklist, the private pilot turned the fuel pump on and positioned the fuel selector to the fullest tank (right). The engine then ran rough and lost all power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and verified that the fuel pump was on, the mixture was rich, and the landing gear was down. He then attempted to glide to runway 31; however, there was not enough time to align the airplane with the runway and it traveled off the right side, into a bog. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The inspector noted adequate fuel in both fuel tanks. The engine was then started with the fuel selector positioned to the right fuel tank; however, it ran for about 10 seconds and lost all power again. After the wreckage was recovered from the bog, the inspector completed a further examination and noted that when the engine ran briefly, fuel leaked from the inlet side of the engine driven fuel pump. Examination of the pump revealed that the fuel pump line fitting O-ring seal was cracked. The airplane was manufactured in 1967 and equipped with a Lycoming IO-360-B1E, 180-horsepower engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on November 7, 2012. At that time, the engine had accumulated approximately 1,578 hours since its last overhaul, which was completed in 1997. The airplane had been operated for about 15 hours since its most recent annual inspection. The FAA inspector added that the cracked O-ring seal might not be detected during an annual inspection, unless it was leaking fuel at that time; however, the engine manufacturer recommended an overhaul of the engine every 2,000 hours or 12 years, whichever came first.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3898T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3898T-2014-12-12), registration cancelled 2014-12-12, S/N 28R-30228, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-30228
- Airframe hours: 9231
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flight School Of Gwinnett
- Registered owner: Flight School Of Gwinnett
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 2012, 15 hours before
- Departed: LZU, Lawrenceville, GA
- Destination: WDR, Winder, GA
- Airport: WDR, Barrow County, runway 31, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 9, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 1,419 total, 51 in this make and model, 1,284 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 135 total, 1 in this make and model, 71 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: WDR

## 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 20130112000919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130112000919A), Jan 12, 2013: Piper PA-28R-180, Winder, GA, Substantial damage. On January 12, 2013 at 1500 local approximately, aircraft N3898T a Piper PA-28R serial number 28R 30228 experienced a rough running engine and subsequent…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86008. 929 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 489 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386295&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Correspondence From Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20From%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Interview Summary (item 4, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Photograph # 1: Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%3A%20%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photograph # 2: Fuel Pump Seal (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%202%3A%20%20Fuel%20Pump%20Seal%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%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.

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