ERA23LA306

The pilot reported that he was about 30 minutes from his destination when the engine lost total power. He conducted the emergency procedures for an engine power loss, notified air traffic control, and looked for an opening in the clouds. He was unable to glide to a suitable airport, so he performed a forced landing into a soybean field with the landing gear retracted. The airplane came to rest in the field; however, substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing resulted. An examination of the wreckage after the accident did not reveal evidence of a malfunction or anomaly that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane and engine. The left wing fuel tank was dry when examined after the accident, and the right wing contained about 25 gallons of fuel. The pilot later reported that he exhausted the fuel supply from the left tank and failed to switch to the right tank after the loss of engine power.

On July 21, 2023, about 1510 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 airplane, N9519C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mount Gilead, Ohio. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was in instrument meteorological conditions, about 30 minutes from his destination, when the airplane sustained a total loss of engine power. He conducted the emergency procedures for a power loss, notified air traffic control, and looked for an opening in the clouds. The controller provided vectors to the nearest suitable airport, Morrow County Airport (4I9), in Mount Gilead. The pilot acquired runway 28 visually; however, the airplane was unable to glide to the runway. He prepared for a 10°-flaps, gear-retracted landing in a soybean field. After touchdown, the airplane came to rest upright and the pilot and his passenger were met by first responders. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The wreckage was recovered to a salvage facility where it was examined by the NTSB investigator-in-charge. The fuel tanks were intact and uncompromised. The left fuel tank was empty and the electronic cockpit fuel gauge also indicated zero fuel. The right wing fuel tank contained about 25 gallons of fuel and the cockpit gauge registered about 25 gallons. Compressed air was blown through the fuel lines and the selector operated in a normal manner with no contamination noted. The fuel strainer, located under the fuselage, contained residual fuel and was free of contaminants. The engine-driven fuel pump operated normally and contained residual fuel. Internal engine continuity was verified by rotating the propeller manually. Compression and suction were observed on all cylinders and valve action was correct. The dual magneto produced spark on all leads when rotated manually. The top spark plug electrodes were normal in color and wear when compared to a Champion Check-A-Plug chart. No evidence of a mechanical malfunction or anomaly that would have prevented normal operation of the engine or airframe was found. In a subsequent interview with the pilot, he stated that he exhausted the fuel supply in the left tank and failed to switch to the right tank after the loss of engine power.