# NTSB IAD05LA113: Piper PA-22-150, N3818P, Chatham, VA, July 24, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2005, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Chatham, VA - Coordinates: 36.883609, -79.304443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8836&lon=-79.3044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62109/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the fuel selector valve was properly engaged, which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,selector/valve - not engaged (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot filled the airplane's right fuel tank with automotive gasoline prior to conducting a preflight inspection. The pilot subsequently selected the left fuel tank with the fuel selector, conducted a run up, and departed. When the airplane reached about 300 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose power. As the pilot attempted to avoid trees during the forced landing, the airplane impacted the ground, nosed over, and incurred substantial damage. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies, and that the fuel selector valve was not positively engaged. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2005, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N3818P, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the pilot's private airstrip in Chatham, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, destined for Danville Regional Airport (DAN), Danville, Virginia. According to the pilot's written statement, he filled the airplane's right fuel tank with automotive gasoline, and intended to fly to Danville in order to fill the left fuel tank with aviation gasoline. He then performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included checking for water at each of the four fuel sump drains. He detected a small amount of dirt and rust in the engine drain sump; however, when he drained the sump a second time, the fuel was clear. Following the preflight inspection, the pilot entered the cabin, completed the pre-start checklist, and "shifted the gas flow to the left tank." He then started the engine and taxied to the end of the runway, where he completed an engine run up. The pilot then departed the runway at full power. When the airplane reached about 300 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose power. The pilot immediately identified a clearing in a pasture just beyond a tree line where he could land the airplane. During the approach to the pasture, he attempted to avoid the trees, and the airplane landed hard, then nosed over. During a subsequent interview, the pilot could not recall if the engine had lost partial or full power. The wreckage was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector following the accident, and no mechanical deficiencies of the airplane, or the engine, were noted. The inspector also found that the fuel selector valve was not positively engaged in the left tank detent. The inspector subsequently rotated the valve slightly, and heard it "click" into the detent. Examination of the airplane's records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was completed on February 10, 2005. At that time, the airplane's engine was overhauled and reinstalled. The airplane had accumulated 23 hours of operation since that date. Review of the records also revealed that the airplane did not possess a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the use of automotive gasoline. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. He reported 492 total hours of flight experience, 65 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model. The weather reported at Danville, about 19 nautical miles south, at 1756, included calm winds, few clouds at 5,000 feet, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 66 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.07 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3818P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3818P-2005-10-07), registration cancelled 2005-10-07, S/N 22-3508, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-3508 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2004, 22 hours before - Departed: NONE, Chatham, VA - Destination: DAN, Danville, VA - Airport: Coles Hill Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 492 total, 65 in this make and model, 382 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: DAN, 19 nm away ## 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 20050724024179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050724024179A), Jul 24, 2005: Piper PA22150, Chatham, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed his private airport (turf runway) for a local flight. The fuel selector was placed in the left tank selection. The selector was not fully… 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.