# NTSB ERA18LA186: Piper PA34, N294AB, Gulf Shores, AL, July 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2018, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Gulf Shores, AL - Coordinates: 30.289722, -87.671669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2897&lon=-87.6717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 5 minor - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: CMI, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97705 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97705/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97705 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA186 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight and in-flight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion to the left engine and a total loss of engine power during an attempted go-around maneuver. ## 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: [Piper PA-34-220T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103420), [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: [Piper PA-34-220T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-220T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103420), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot departed in the twin-engine airplane with an estimated quantity of fuel. While landing at the destination airport, the airplane bounced and the pilot aborted the landing. During the subsequent climb, the left engine surged several times before it lost all power. The pilot attempted to restore left engine power by placing the auxiliary fuel pump switch to "high" and selecting "crossfeed" on the left fuel selector, but restoration of continuous engine power was unsuccessful. When the left engine stopped producing power, the stall horn sounded, and the controls "started to buffet." The pilot said that he had "no time" to consult the emergency checklist and considered multiple forced landing areas before he chose to land straight ahead into trees. The airplane came to rest upright with substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. There was an odor of fuel at the scene, but there was no evidence of fuel or fuel spillage. Examination and testing of the engines revealed no pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane's best single-engine rate of climb given the conditions present at the time of the accident was about 280 ft per minute. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2018, at 0920 central daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T, N294AB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to wooded terrain near Jack Edwards Airport (JKA), Gulf Shores, Alabama. The private pilot and four passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was privately owned and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight which departed Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), Lafayette, Louisiana and was destined for JKA.In a written statement, the pilot provided a detailed description of his preflight inspection, his performance of weight and balance calculations, and his loading of the airplane with golf clubs, baggage, and the passengers. The pilot visually checked for the presence of fuel, but did not measure the fuel in the tanks, and neither did he service them with additional fuel. He noted no anomalies and estimated that there were 30 gallons of fuel "per side prior to departure according to the fuel gauges." The pilot reported no anomalies with the performance and handling of the airplane in his description of the flight until landing. Upon landing, the airplane began to "porpoise or oscillate," and after the third or fourth bounce, the pilot aborted the landing. The pilot said that he pushed the throttle, propeller, and mixture levers "full forward" and retracted the landing gear when a positive rate of climb was established. Immediately after, the left engine "appeared" to lose power and was "surging." The airplane yawed to its left, and the right engine continued to operate "normally." The pilot attempted to restore left engine power by placing the auxiliary fuel pump switch to "high" and selecting "crossfeed" on the left fuel selector. The left engine stopped producing power, the stall horn sounded, and the controls "started to buffet." The pilot said he had "no time" to consult the checklist, considered multiple forced landing areas, and eventually chose to land straight ahead into trees. The airplane came to rest upright with substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He reported 335 total hours of flight experience, of which 65 were in multiengine airplanes, and 33 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. At 1415, the weather recorded at JKA included scattered clouds at 2,100 ft and calm wind. The temperature was 28°C, and the dew point was 23°C. The altimeter setting was 30.08 inches of mercury. According to the an aircraft recovery specialist who recovered the airplane, an odor of fuel was detected at the site, but no fuel drained from either wing when each was separated from the airframe. No fuel-spillage remediation was required at the site after recovery of the airplane. Data downloaded from the onboard JPI 760engine data monitor revealed a profile consistent with the engine power surging and power loss on the left engine as described by the pilot. The engines were examined in Mobile, Alabama, at the manufacturer's facility. The propeller was removed from the right engine due to impact damage. A club propeller was installed, and the engine was placed in a test cell. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. The engine was run through the manufacturer's test protocol with no anomalies noted. A test run on the left engine was not performed due to separation of the propeller flange by impact. The engine was rotated by hand through the propeller governor drive pad, and continuity was established through the powertrain and valve train to the accessory section. Compression on each cylinder was confirmed using the thumb method. Internal engine timing was confirmed through index alignment on the camshaft and crankshaft gears. Magneto timing was confirmed using an electronic magneto synchronizer. The components of the fuel system were bench-tested, and the demonstrated flow rates were within ranges necessary to sustain normal engine operation. Flow rates outside the nominal bench-test ranges were affected by airframe-specific, on-airframe adjustments. The left and right magnetos were bench-tested and produced spark at all terminal leads. The No. 5 bottom terminal lead on the left magneto sparked at a cut in the lead consistent with impact damage. Neither engine displayed any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. Interpolation of performance charts at the maximum allowable gross takeoff weight and atmospheric conditions consistent with those at the time of the accident revealed that the airplane's single-engine rate of climb was 280 ft per minute. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N294AB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N294AB-2020-12-02), registration cancelled 2020-12-02, S/N 34-8133257, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA34 (220T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-8133257 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 3277 - Engines: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER reciprocating; Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 2018 - Departed: LFT, Lafayette, LA - Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JKA, Jack Edwards National, runway 09, 6,962 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 335 total, 33 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KJKA ## 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 20180707015869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180707015869A), Jul 7, 2018: Piper PA-34-220T, Gulf Shores, AL, Destroyed. During touchdown on runway 09, airplane bounced three times. Pilot chose to go-around. After applying full power and initiating the climb, the left engine… ## Docket (16 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97705. 4.2 MB in all. - Memorandum For Record- 6120 Form (item 1, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record-%206120%20Form-Master.PDF - Pilot Statements (item 2, .PDF, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Master.PDF - Pilot's Interview Summaries (item 3, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF - Interview Summary With Owner (item 4, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481326&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary%20With%20Owner-Master.PDF - Passenger Statements (item 5, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statements-Master.PDF - Operator Interview Summary (item 6, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481328&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Witness Interviews (item 7, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Interviews-Master.PDF - Inspector Statement (item 8, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481330&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Aircraft Recovery Memorandum for Record (item 9, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Recovery%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Piper PA34 Single Engine Performance (item 10, .PDF, 330 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Piper%20PA34%20Single%20Engine%20Performance-Master.PDF - Annual Inspection (item 11, .PDF, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Annual%20Inspection-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 12, .PDF, 667 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481334&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Data Attachment (item 13, .CSV, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481335&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Data%20Attachment-Master.csv - Engine Data Monitor Factual Report (item 14, .PDF, 960 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Data%20Monitor%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Accident Site Photo (item 15, .PDF, 360 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Photo-Master.PDF - Wreckage Release Form (item 16, .PDF, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481338&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form-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.