# NTSB LAX00LA154: Piper PA-28-161, N81019, Palo Alto, CA, April 14, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 2000, 15:47 local (22:47 UTC) - Place: Palo Alto, CA - Coordinates: 37.449226, -122.099296 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4492&lon=-122.0993&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 July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48961/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA154 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during takeoff climb. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis The engine oil was changed and it was the operator's practice, following maintenance, to fly the aircraft before releasing it for student use. The pilot/flight instructor told the operator that the start, taxi, and run-up were normal. The engine operated smoothly until, at 300 feet agl on takeoff climb out, the engine quit abruptly, regained power, then quit again. The pilot attempted to return to the departure runway but landed short in a marsh area. At the accident site, the propeller did not appear to have been turning on impact. There was fuel in both wing tanks and there was no contamination at the sumps. The emergency responders had instructed the pilot to turn the fuel selector to the 'off' position. The fuel pump functioned audibly. There was clean oil in the engine and the engine rotated freely with good compression. After recovery, the cowling was removed and the engine was examined. No anomalies were noted. The propeller was replaced and the carburetor heat box was removed due to damage. The engine started promptly, the run-up was normal, and the engine delivered full power. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2000, at 1547 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N81019, was substantially damaged during an off airport landing following loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb. The commercial certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area, post maintenance check flight operated by the Palo Alto Flying Club under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed. According to the operator, the aircraft had just received an engine oil change and it was the operator's practice, following maintenance, to fly the aircraft around the airport traffic pattern a couple of times before releasing it for student use. The pilot/flight instructor told the operator that the start, taxi, and run-up were normal. The engine operated smoothly until, at 300 feet agl on takeoff climb out, the engine quit abruptly, regained power, then quit again. The pilot attempted to return to the departure runway but landed short in a marsh area. The operator further stated that, at the accident site, the propeller did not appear to have been turning on impact. There was fuel in both wing tanks and there was no contamination at the sumps. The emergency responders had instructed the pilot to turn the fuel selector to the "off" position. The fuel pump functioned audibly. There was clean oil in the engine and the engine rotated freely with good compression. After recovery, the cowling was removed and the engine was examined by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration San Jose Flight Standards District Office. No anomalies were noted. The propeller was replaced and the carburetor heat box was removed due to damage. The engine started promptly, the run-up was normal, and the engine delivered full power. It was noted that, if the fuel tank selector valve was moved out of a tank position detent to the between-tank or off position, the engine operated approximately 1 minute before stopping. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81019](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81019-2003-10-02), registration cancelled 2003-10-02, S/N 28-8016098, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 288016098 - Airframe hours: 5893 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Palo Alto Flying Club - Registered owner: Richard Doerr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2000, 70 hours before - Departed: PAO - Airport: PAO, Palo Alto Apt Of Santa Cl, runway 30, 2,500 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,060 total, 50 in this make and model, 995 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAO ## 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 20000414036179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000414036179A), Apr 14, 2000: Piper PA28161, Palo Alto, CA, No damage. (-23) Pilot was making a post maintenance check, at about 300 feet AGL after takeoff intial engine failure occurred. The engine sputtered and fired back up for… 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.