# NTSB ERA25LA035: Piper PA28, N207AB, Merritt Island, FL, October 5, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 5, 2024, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Merritt Island, FL - Coordinates: 28.342299, -80.688175 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3423&lon=-80.6882&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195421/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195421 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA035 ## Probable cause A worn fuel selector valve, which resulted in a restriction of fuel flow to the engine and a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 177 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 401 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,789 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis A pilot and safety pilot had planned a cross-country flight to build flight time. During the initial climb after takeoff, about 200 ft above ground level, the engine started to run rough. The pilot engaged the starter in an attempt to restart the engine and turned back to the airport. The engine briefly regained power before it lost total power as they turned onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern, so they decided to land downwind on the departure runway. The airplane was fast and touched down long on the runway. Both the pilot and passenger applied heavy braking. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway and impacted terrain. The nose landing gear separated, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mounts. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuel selector valve was worn, and that when the fuel selector was placed in the left tank detent, the indicator handle could be manipulated past the detent such that fuel flow from that tank to the engine was restricted. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were otherwise identified. Based on this information, it is likely that the condition of the fuel selector valve resulted in a restriction of fuel flow to the engine and the subsequent total loss of engine power during initial climb. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2024, about 1450 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N207AB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Merritt Island, Florida. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to build flight time with his safety pilot. During the initial climb after takeoff on runway 11, at an altitude about 200 ft above ground level, the engine started to run rough. The pilot then leveled the airplane, engaged the starter, and the engine restarted. He decided to return to the airport and, during the turn back to the runway, the engine lost all power, so they decided to land downwind on runway 29. They approached the runway at an airspeed of about 95 knots, which the pilot reported was fast. The airplane touched down near the end of the 3,601-ft-long runway. He noticed they did not have enough runway to stop, and both the pilot and passenger applied heavy braking. The airplane started to skid off the right side of the runway and impacted uneven terrain, during which the nose landing gear separated, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mounts. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane after the accident. The inspectors examined the engine’s oil filter and found no metal particulates. The inspectors noted that when the right fuel tank was selected, fuel flowed normally to the carburetor. When the left fuel tank was selected, no fuel would flow. Further examination of the fuel filter, carburetor screen, and left wing fuel tank screen revealed all were absent of debris contamination. The inspectors drained the left wing fuel tank and utilized a borescope to examine the interior for contamination, with none noted. The inspectors examined the fuel selector valve and found that the handle/fuel tank position indicator could be manipulated past the detent, and that the valve was worn. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were identified that would have precluded normal operation. The operator did not notify the NTSB that the accident had occurred until 1 month after the accident. By that time, the airplane had already been examined and released by an FAA inspector and the operator without NTSB involvement. The airplane had completed seven 100-hour inspections before the accident. The airframe manufacturer’s service bulletin for the fuel selector was not applicable to this airplane due to the newer age of the airplane and newer design of the fuel selector. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N207AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N207AB), registered now, S/N 2841284, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (161) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-D3G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-d3g) (registry code 42156, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2841284 - Year built: 1989 - Airframe hours: 14150 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Coco Aircraft Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 18, 2024 - Destination: FIN, Flagler, FL - Airport: COI, Merritt Island, runway 29, 3,601 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 150 total, 128 in this make and model, 103 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: TIX, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR KTIX 051847Z 09005KT 7SM SCT 040 33/21 A2998 ## 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 20241005015559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241005015559A), Oct 5, 2024: Piper PA-28-161, Merritt Island, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot departed from runway 11 at approximately 1445 and stated that around 200 feet the engine began to run rough and experienced low RPM. After performing… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195421. 13.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18014352&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18014556&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=School%20Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18013619&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18035778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=maintenance%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18026592&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Service bulletin (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 985 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18050297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SB%20840A-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.