# NTSB ERA23LA290: Piper PA-28-235, N8579W, Clearwater, FL, July 5, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 5, 2023, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Clearwater, FL - Coordinates: 27.977214, -82.759057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9772&lon=-82.7591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 192544 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192544/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192544 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA290 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper preflight inspection which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (water). ## 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 condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to take off when the engine lost total power about 100-200 ft above the runway. He attempted to re-start the engine by switching the fuel selector from the right main tank to the left main tank, but the engine did not re-start. The pilot made a forced landing to a grassy area beyond the runway. The airplane traveled down an embankment, struck a pole and a metal gate, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and several engine mounts. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the right main fuel tank was intact and fuel was observed in the tank. When the fuel was drained from the tank’s quick drain valve, as well as the fuel strainer located on the lower fuselage, a large amount of water was drained prior to any fuel being drained. Water was also drained from the carburetor bowl and the drain plug was corroded. The pilot said that he performed a preflight inspection “per the checklists” and had drained fuel from both the left and right main fuel tanks prior to the flight; however, he did not drain the fuselage fuel strainer as part of the preflight inspection, which is required per the checklist. According to the airplane’s pilot operating handbook (POH), “This strainer should be drained regularly to avoid the accumulation of water or sediment.” Though the pilot said he drained the right main fuel tank prior to flight, he did not drain the fuselage fuel strainer as required per the checklist. As such, the loss of engine power on takeoff was most likely due to water contamination in the available fuel supply. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8579W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8579W), registered now, S/N 28-10091, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10091 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 1269 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harmon Troy L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2023 - Destination: SRQ, Sarasota, FL - Airport: CLW, Clearwater Air Park, runway 34, 4,108 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review April 14, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 176 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KCLW - METAR: METAR KCLW 051555Z AUTO 31007KT 10SM BKN029 BKN035 32/25 A3008 ## 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 20230705007649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230705007649A), Jul 5, 2023: Piper PA-28-235, Clearwater, FL, Substantial damage. Description of events Clearwater, FL (clw): PA28, while departing runway 34, aircraft lost engine power and crashed back onto the runway. Aircraft came to rest… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192544. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16065722&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 497 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16065937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - NTSB summary of record - FAA inspector written statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16066815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Pages from POH (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 244 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16086677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%20POH-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.