# NTSB ERA19LA252: Piper PA 31P, N90AP, East Brady, PA, August 20, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 20, 2019, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: East Brady, PA - Coordinates: 40.93111, -79.662223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9311&lon=-79.6622&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 2009-02-03](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2009-02-03) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 100107 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100107/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100107 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA252 ## Probable cause A total loss of left engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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-31P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103120), [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: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103120), [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-31P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis On a cross-country flight during cruise, the left engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot stated he burned fuel from the inboard tanks for 30 minutes, then another 15 minutes on the outboard tanks before the loss of power. Unable to restore power the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. Testing of the left engine fuel servo and controller revealed the servo was not the correct part number for the engine, and the servo did not meet the high-end adjustment test. It is inconclusive that the fuel servo and controller were the cause of the complete loss of engine power. Postaccident examination of the left engine revealed no other evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The left-wing outboard and inboard tanks were found empty, the nacelle tank was full. The right-wing outboard tank was empty and the inboard and nacelle were full. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2019, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31P, N90AP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near East Brady, Pennsylvania. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and had an annual inspection completed. The airplane had not undergone an annual inspection since April 21, 2010, and in that time, had accumulated 3 hours of total flight time. The pilot reported that, after a normal preflight and engine runup, he departed on a cross-country flight with all six fuel tanks filled to capacity, a total of 242 gallons. He initially set the fuel selectors to the inboard fuel tanks, then after 30 minutes of flight time, he switched to the outboard tanks. About 45 minutes en route, and 15 minutes after switching tanks, the left engine lost total power. Unable to restore power to the left engine per the emergency checklist, he secured the left engine and applied climb power to the right engine, but the airplane continued to descend. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted an electric fence and trees and came to rest 180° from the direction of travel. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the landing gear had separated, and the right aileron, right wing tip, elevator, and left aileron displayed damage. A detailed examination confirmed engine continuity and compression. The left and right magnetos were disassembled and revealed no anomalies. Further testing was conducted on the fuel servo and controller. The fuel servo was within limits but was not the correct part number. The controller was within the lower limits but did not meet the high-end fuel flow limits. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no other evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane’s maintenance records found no indication that FAA Airworthiness Directive 2009-02-03, which requires inspecting servo plugs for looseness and damage and inspecting the servo plug gasket, had been complied with. The airplane was equipped with three fuel tanks in each wing: outboard, inboard, and a nacelle tank. The two inboard fuel tanks had a capacity of 56 gallons each; the outboard fuel tanks had a capacity of 40 gallons each, and the two nacelle fuel tanks had a capacity of 25 gallons each. The left wing outboard and inboard tanks were empty; the nacelle tank was full. The right-wing outboard tank was empty; the inboard and nacelle fuel tanks were full. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90AP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90AP), registered now, S/N 31P-7300148, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 31P (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Piper PA-31P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31p) (registry code 7103120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIGO-541SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tigo-541ser) (registry code 41539, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31P-7300148 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 4239 - Engines: Lycoming TIGO-541 425 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIGO-541 425 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2019 - Departed: DYL, Doylestown, PA - Destination: LOT, Chicago/Romeoville, IL - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 10, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 850 total, 25 in this make and model, 850 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: BTP, 16 nm away - METAR: KBTP 201530Z AUTO 19005KT 10SM BKN060 27/20 A3017 RMK T02700200 MADISHF ## 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 20190820013929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190820013929A), Aug 20, 2019: Piper PA-31P, East Brady, PA, Substantial damage. The pilot of N90AP, Piper PA-31P, reported left engine failure in flight and made an emergency landing in a field located near East Brady, PA. The aircraft… ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100107. 30.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12456075&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12455922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Paul%20Stibolt%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12462066&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Lycoming service instruction (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12474552&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SI1211D%20Controller%20Linkage%20and%20Fuel%20Injector%20Setting-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from PA31 POH (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13167600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20PA31%20POH-Rel.pdf - AD 2009-02-03 (item 6, PDF, 7 pages, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12473804&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AD%202009-02-03-Rel.pdf - Fuel servo testing (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12474688&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Servo%20testing_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 8, PDF, 12 pages, 7.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12456085&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Maintenance%20Records%20N90AP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's logbook (item 9, PDF, 9 pages, 13.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12455246&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20logbook%20Paul%20Spibolt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 10, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12456095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12455651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Stibolt%20N90AP%20NTSB%20salvage%20release_Redacted-Rel.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.