# NTSB ERA18LA145: Piper PA28, N80813, Vero Beach, FL, May 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 2018, 10:43 local (14:43 UTC) - Place: Vero Beach, FL - Coordinates: 27.655555, -80.418052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97200 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97200/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97200 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA145 ## Probable cause Water contamination of the fuel supply, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## 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 condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102803), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting an instructional flight. As the student turned the airplane from the base leg to the final leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost total power, so the instructor assumed control of the airplane. He attempted remedial actions to no avail, so he chose to conduct a forced landing to a railroad bed before the approach end of the runway. The airplane landed hard, which resulted in the right main landing gear and nose landing gear separating from the airplane. Fuel drained from the airplane during recovery contained large quantities of water. After recovery, a fresh source of fuel was plumbed into the fuel system, and the engine started and ran smoothly. Given that the engine was successfully test-run with fresh fuel after the accident, it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to water contamination of the fuel supply. ## Factual narrative On May 7, 2018, at 1043 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N80813, operated by Paris Air Inc, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after a total loss of engine power while on approach to Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB), Vero Beach, Florida. The flight instructor and a student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.The flight instructor and the student pilot each provided written statements, and their recounting of events was consistent throughout. According to the student pilot, he had completed a right traffic pattern and as he turned the airplane from the base leg to the final leg, the engine power was "decreasing" and did not respond when he increased the throttle setting. At that point, he surrendered the flight controls to the instructor. According to the flight instructor, as he assumed control of the airplane the engine "started running extremely rough" and the propeller rotated slowly. He initiated the "engine failure" checklist but could not complete it due to the lack of available time and altitude and instead chose to perform a forced landing to the railroad bed that was about 1/4 mile prior to the approach end of the runway and oriented perpendicular to the final approach course. The flight instructor turned the airplane to the right, aligned with the railroad tracks, and landed "hard," which separated the right main and nose landing gear. The flight instructor held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He held a flight instructor certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine. The flight instructor was issued a first-class medical certificate on April 7, 2015. He reported 491 total hours of flight experience, of which 456 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The student pilot was issued a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) student pilot certificate and a first-class medical certificate on August 17, 2017. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1979 and had accrued 12,557.3 total aircraft hours. Its most recent 100-hour inspection was completed May 1, 2018 at 12,544.8 total aircraft hours. At 1053, the weather recorded at VRB included clear skies and wind from 040° at 5 knots. The temperature was 27°C, and the dew point was 20°C. The altimeter setting was 29.99 inches of mercury. During recovery of the airplane, both main wing tanks and the carburetor float bowl were drained. Samples of the drained fuel were collected in 2 one-pint bottles and a one-quart bottle. The contents of each were divided approximately one-third fuel and two-thirds water. After recovery, an NTSB investigator connected an external fuel tank at the gascolator output and primed the engine. The carburetor case was cracked due to impact, andfuel dripped from the crack when the system was primed. An engine start was attempted, and after about two revolutions of the propeller, the engine started. According to the investigator, the engine ran smoothly after start, but he stopped the engine after a brief period due to the fuel leak. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80813](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80813-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 28-8016057, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8016057 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 12557.3 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Paris Air Inc - Registered owner: Paris Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2018, 12 hours before - Departed: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Destination: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Rgnl, runway 30R, 3,504 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 491 total, 456 in this make and model - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KVRB ## 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 20180507004839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180507004839A), May 7, 2018: Piper PA-28-161, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Student was attempting first touch and go, turned base to final and throttle was not responding, emergency landing on the railroad tracks. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97200. 739 KB in all. - Memorandum for Record - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470645&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (Instructor) (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20(Instructor)-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (Student) (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20(Student)-Master.PDF - Powerplants NTSB Engine Run (item 4, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Powerplants%20NTSB%20Engine%20Run-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 4 photos, 509 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470649&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.