# NTSB ERA23LA061: Piper PA28, N6303J, Lancaster, OH, November 14, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2022, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, OH - Coordinates: 39.755657, -82.657338 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7557&lon=-82.6573&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 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): 106301 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106301/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106301 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA061 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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-28-180, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102808), [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-28-180, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was conducting a local instructional flight with a new student pilot. Following the preflight inspection and engine start, the flight instructor noted that the fuel selector looked to be positioned “in the right place,” and that neither he nor the student touched the fuel selector for the entirety of the accident flight. They subsequently conducted about 15 to 20 minutes of the instructional lesson on the ground, while the engine was running. During engine run-up, the flight instructor noted that “the fuel pressure indicator went to zero” so he turned on the airplane’s electric fuel pump and the fuel pressure recovered. After 1 to 2 minutes, the flight instructor turned off the electric fuel pump and the fuel pressure returned to the normal range and remained there. After takeoff, and during the initial climb, the engine started to “lose and gain power,” so the flight instructor attempted a turn back to the departure runway. Halfway through the turn, the airplane lost all engine power, and the flight instructor landed the airplane in a grassy area, but encountered uneven terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing during the landing. Initial postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was of a configuration that the handle of the rotary valve faced away from the fuel tank being selected, while the opposite side of the handle indicated the selected tank or shutoff position. The operator had painted a gray/white stripe on the handle and fuel selector valve placard that showed the selected tank to aid pilots in correctly selecting the desired position. Following the accident, the flight instructor stated that he was confused by the white paint stripe on the fuel selector. He also stated that the airplane’s owner advised him after the accident that the fuel selector had been found in the “off” position after the accident. The wreckage was subsequently disposed of by the owner, and no additional detailed examination was conducted to determine if the fuel selector valve handle, the valve mechanism itself, or fuel selector valve placard were correctly oriented and that the internal valve mechanism was intact, nor were the engine or fuel system otherwise examined or tested. Based on this information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6303J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6303J-2024-01-08), registration cancelled 2024-01-08, S/N 28-4714, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4714 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5443 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sundowner Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Logan Flyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2022, 60 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LHQ, Fairfield County, runway 10, 5,003 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2022; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 515 total, 58 in this make and model, 463 as pilot in command, 212 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: LHQ ## 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 20221114018109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221114018109A), Nov 14, 2022: Piper PA-28-180, Lancaster, OH, Substantial damage. On November 14, 2022 at 16:30 LCL at klhq, the instructor and student met for the student's second or third flight lesson and at the time of this interview,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106301. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15064267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120p-comp_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Instructor and student statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15068239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statements_%20N6303J_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, owner (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15068229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-PatRooney_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Additional memoranda for the record (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15622526&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFRs-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15545290&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20Template-Rel-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.