# NTSB ERA22LA130: Piper PA32R, N114BR, Washington, NC, February 16, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 16, 2022, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Washington, NC - Coordinates: 35.570472, -77.049806 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5705&lon=-77.0498&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - 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): 104658 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104658/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104658 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA130 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103213), [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 · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103213), [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 downwind: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103213), [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-32R-300, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was interested in purchasing the airplane and the accident flight was a demonstration flight. The owner of the airplane provided a flight instructor as the pilot had not flown the make and model airplane in many years. Prior to the flight, 10 gallons of fuel were added to each wing fuel tank, to bring the total useable fuel to 38 gallons. The pilot further stated that he and the flight instructor then performed a thorough preflight inspection, which included sumping the fuel tanks. The pilot planned to perform touch-and-go landings and the first one was uneventful. While on a downwind leg to the runway for a second landing, the pilot verified that the electric fuel pump was on and switched the fuel selector from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank. The engine subsequently lost all power and the propeller continued to windmill. The pilot attempted to glide to the airport while the flight instructor attempted to restart the engine, which included switching back to the right fuel tank. The engine did not regain power and the pilot subsequently performed a forced landing in a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. During a post-accident examination, about 3 quarts of water were drained from the left fuel tank, about 1 pint of water was drained from the fuel system and no water was found in the right fuel tank. The airplane had not flown for about 11 months prior to the accident flight. During that time, it sat outside for several months. The left-wing fuel cap appeared to have a good seal and the investigation could not determine how water entered the left fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N114BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N114BR-2024-05-04), registration cancelled 2024-05-04, S/N 32R-7780140 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780140 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 10584 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mission Air Care LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2021, 3 hours before - Airport: OCW, Washington-Warren Airport, runway 23, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 3, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 24,234 total, 645 in this make and model, 18,683 as pilot in command, 178 in the last 90 days, 68 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,101 total, 23 in this make and model, 2,668 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.55 inHg - Observed at: OCW, 1.5 nm away - METAR: KOCW 161955Z AUTO 14010KT 10SM SCT055 19/05 A3055 ## 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 20220216001969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220216001969A), Feb 16, 2022: Piper PA-32R-300, Washington, NC, Substantial damage. N114BR was being flown for a pre-buy inspection and flight. Pilot stated that they did a two hour pre-flight to go over the airworthiness of the aircraft. The… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104658. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13342432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13342087&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Interview summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13345746&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13342308&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. --- 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.