# NTSB ERA22LA037: Piper PA-30, N30SH, Waverly, TN, October 29, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 29, 2021, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Waverly, TN · Hay Field
- Coordinates: 36.024276, -87.819159 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0243&lon=-87.8192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104185/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104185
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA037

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper pre-flight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power to both engines due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not serviced/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103002), [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: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departed on a cross-county flight in his twin-engine airplane and set the fuel selector to the auxiliary tanks. About 7-10 minutes into the flight, the auxiliary tanks ran out of fuel and the pilot switched the fuel selector handles to the main tanks, which the fuel gauge indicated were a ¼-full. The pilot then decided to land and purchase fuel. When the airplane was on a four-mile final approach to the diversion airport, the left engine stopped producing power. About 30 seconds later, the right engine stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and made a forced landing to a field. The airplane struck a hay bale, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed six fuel tanks were intact and empty of fuel. A fuel line fitting to the right auxiliary tank was observed to be loose, stained blue/green, and most likely had been actively leaking fuel. The amount of fuel lost due to this leak could be not determined. The airplane was equipped with three fuel tanks (main, auxiliary and tip tank) in each wing, for a total of 120 gallons total (114 useable). Each tank was independent of each other, so the leak in the right auxiliary fuel tank would have only affected the fuel level in that tank. The pilot reported there was about 55 gallons of fuel onboard when he departed, and the airplane consumed an average of 15 gallons per hour. Based on this information, if the right auxiliary tank (15 gallons total) was empty due to the leak, there still should have been about 40 gallons of fuel onboard (or about 2.6 hours of fuel). The pilot said that he did not visually check the fuel quantity prior to flight because the airplane “…does not have a way to visually check the fuel and know how much fuel you have in the tanks.” However, the Pilot Operating Handbook states, that the pilot should visually check the fuel supply in each tank before flight. As such, even though the pilot thought he had sufficient fuel to complete his flight, postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were not breached and empty of fuel. A loose fuel line fitting in the right auxiliary fuel tank likely contributed to some unquantifiable loss of fuel from that tank. Had the pilot used the preflight checklist, and visually looked in all six fuel tanks, he would have seen that there was insufficient fuel in all of the tanks to complete the flight. As a result, both engines lost total power due to fuel exhaustion 20 minutes after takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing to field.

## Factual narrative

On October 29, 2021, about 1600 central daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N30SH, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Waverly, Tennessee. The pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot said he departed Music City Executive Airport (XNX), Gallatin, Tennessee, about 1540, on a cross-county flight in his twin-engine airplane and set the fuel selector to the auxiliary tanks. About 7-10 minutes into the flight, the auxiliary tanks ran out of fuel and the pilot switched the fuel selector handles to the main tanks, which the fuel gauge indicated were a ¼-full. The pilot elected to divert and land at the Humphrey’s County Airport (0M5), Waverly, Tennessee, for fuel. When the airplane was on a four-mile final approach to land, the left engine stopped producing power, and the pilot feathered the engine. About 30 seconds later, the right engine stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and made a forced landing to a field. The airplane struck a hay bale, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. On-scene examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the right wingtip fuel tank, auxiliary fuel tank, and main fuel tank were not breached and were absent of fuel. The left wingtip fuel tank separated (but was not breached) with the portion of the wing and was empty of fuel. The left auxiliary and main fuel tanks were not breached and empty of fuel. Each of the tanks respective fuel caps were secure. After the airplane was recovered from the accident site and the wings were removed, the inspector re-examined the airplane and noted the fuel line fitting to the right auxiliary tank was loose, stained blue/green, consistent with a fuel leak. The amount of fuel lost due to this leak could not determined. The staining was traced down the main wing spar to where it exited at the wing root area and a large fuel stain was observed on the exterior of the wing root. No other evidence of fuel leakage was observed. The airplane was equipped with three fuel tanks in each wing: a main tank (30 total/26 useable), 15-gallon auxiliary tank, and a 15-gallon wingtip tank, for a total of 120 gallons total (114 useable). Each tank was independent of each other, so the leak in the right auxiliary fuel tank would have only affected the fuel level in that tank. The pilot reported that based on his recent fueling and flight history in the airplane, that he had about 55 gallons of fuel onboard when he departed. He said the airplane burned an average of 15 gallons per hour. Based on this information, if the right auxiliary tank was empty due to the leak, there still should have been about 40 gallons of fuel onboard (or about 2.6 hours of fuel). The pilot said that he did not visually check the fuel quantity prior to flight because the airplane “…does not have a wayto visually check the fuel and know how much fuel you have in the tanks.” However, the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) (section 4 – Normal Procedures – Walk Around Inspection) states, that the pilot should visually check the fuel supply in each tank before flight and to make sure each fuel cap is adjusted and secure. The pilot also reported that the fuel gauges for the main tanks were still indicating a ¼-full just before they both lost power. The pilot said he was relatively new to flying this make/model airplane and thought the fuel gauges were fairly accurate. The pilot said that he would not have flown the airplane if he knew the right-wing auxiliary fuel line was leaking or that the fuel gauges were not indicating properly.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30SH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30SH), registered now, S/N 30-1262, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1262
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 5662
- Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Medic Choppers LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 8, 2021
- Departed: XNX, Gallatin, TN
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 0M5, Humphrey's County
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 12, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,044.6 total, 114.1 in this make and model, 1,893 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 17.3 in the last 30 days, 1.1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.51 inHg
- Observed at: KM02, 15 nm away
- METAR: METAR KM02 292055Z AUTO 25005KT 6SM BR BKN007 BKN013 BKN022 12/11 A2951

## 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 20211029018469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211029018469A), Oct 29, 2021: Piper PA-30, Waverly, TN, Substantial damage. A short time after departing the airport the pilot decided to alter is flight plan due to low fuel indication. A nearby airport was chosen and when the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104185. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 10 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13812067&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 528 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13812727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- NTSB summary of record - FAA written statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13813081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Written%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Pages from Piper PA-30 pilot operator handbook - prelight inspection checklist (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13813091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20-%20Preflight%20Procedures-Rel.pdf
- Piper PA-30 fuel system schematic (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13812492&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%20Twin%20Comanche%20POH%20fuel%20schematic-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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