# NTSB FTW88IA092: Piper PA-31-350, N59981, Henderson, TX, April 19, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1988, 21:08 local (Apr 19, 1988, 02:08 UTC)
- Place: Henderson, TX
- Coordinates: 32.239414, -94.729705 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2394&lon=-94.7297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22572
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88IA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22572/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88IA092

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - holding(ifr)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - deteriorated (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - unreliable (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing

## Analysis

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FROM THE LEFT ENGINE AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE MAIN FUEL TANKS ON WHICH THE ENGINES WERE OPERATING WERE FOUND EMPTY BUT THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY IN THE AUXILIARY TANKS. ALTHOUGH OPERATING IN IFR CONDITIONS, THE PILOT ACCOMPLISHED A SAFE LANDING ON AN AIRPORT. TESTS SHOWED ERRONEOUS FUEL FLOW INDICATIONS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL FLOAT SENSORS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N59981 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7552070
- Airframe hours: 1453
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Exchange, Inc.
- Registered owner: Emersome Enterprise, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 10, 1988, 2 hours before
- Departed: SHV, SHREVEPORT, LA
- Destination: TYR, TYLER, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: F12, Rusk County, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 22 in this make and model, 2,365 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GGG

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19880418054839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880418054839I), Apr 18, 1988: Piper PA31350, Henderson, TX. Forced landing due to fuel exhaustion. Evidence of fuel leak. Also showed evidence of poor maintenance practices.

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.

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