# NTSB ERA21LA241: Piper PA-24-260, N79RG, Robbinsville, NJ, June 6, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 6, 2021, 17:01 local (21:01 UTC)
- Place: Robbinsville, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.213376, -74.583327 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2134&lon=-74.5833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103223
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA241
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103223/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103223
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA241

## Probable cause

The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel, 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine began to sputter. He performed a 180° turn back to the runway, bounced due to excessive speed and attempted a go-around, during which the engine briefly regained power before all power was lost. During a forced landing to a road adjacent to the airport, the left wing impacted powerlines, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. A post-accident examination revealed that the auxiliary fuel tanks were full, both main fuel tanks were empty and the fuel selector was positioned at the “Right Main” position. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector, the student pilot/owner said that there were no mechanical deficiencies with his airplane and that he had only operated the airplane with the fuel selector on ‘Left’ or ‘Right’ Main fuel tank. Additionally, he had not received the required endorsements for solo operation of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79RG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79RG), registered now, S/N 24-4399, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4399
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 5634
- Engines: Lycoming IO540-D4A5 260 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Feensrta Gregory W
- Registered owner: Feensrta Gregory W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2020
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: N87, Trenton-Robbinsville Airport, runway 29, 4,275 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 75.8 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TTN, 11 nm away
- METAR: KTTN 062053Z 19011KT 10SM FEW075 32/18 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP151 T03220178 56011

## 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 20210606006739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210606006739A), Jun 6, 2021: Piper PA-24-260, Robbinsville, NJ, Substantial damage. On 06/06/2021, a student pilot, operating solo, without appropriate endorsements for solo, complex aircraft, and high performance aircraft, departed…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103223. 7.1 MB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 763 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12583694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Louisne%20Statement%20via%20Email_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13767490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot FAA ii (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 364 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12582618&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary%20II%20(FAA)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, instructor FAA (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12582720&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Instructor%20Interview%20Summary%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Police report (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12806686&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=I-2021-008373%20Police%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Annual inspection (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12582628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N79RG%2010-16-20%20Annual%20Airframe_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12582730&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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