- Date
- May 14, 2000, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Highlands, NC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6860BPiper PA-22-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000514039499A
- Case key
- 49184
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Total loss of engine power due to the obstruction (insect larva) of the left wing aft fuel system line resulting in a forced landing to non suitable terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated he was leveling off after departing from a private airport when the engine started running rough He increased the mixture, the engine rpm increased, and the engine ran smooth, then the engine started running rough again. He made a right descending turn and the engine quit. A forced landing was made to the trees. The pilot stated he was 99 percent sure that he had the left fuel tank selected. Examination of the fuel supply line revealed the left wing aft fuel supply line was obstructed with insect larva. The engine assembly was removed and mounted on a test stand. The engine started, ran, and developed power.
Factual narrative
On May 14, 2000, at about 1215 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, N6860B, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of engine power in the vicinity of Highlands, North Carolina. The pilot made a forced landing into the trees. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from a private airport in Highlands, North Carolina, about 15 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated he departed from the private airport to the south, climbed to 3,100 feet and started to level off when the airplane engine started running rough. He increased the mixture; the engine rpm increased and the engine ran smooth, then the engine started running rough again. He made a right turn while descending and the engine quit. There were no suitable landing areas available, and a forced landing was made to the trees. The pilot stated in a subsequent statement, "There is a good possibility (and I am 99% sure) I was on the left tank, because I always made a practice of using the left tank when the right tank was half or less, because the right tank was placarded for level flight only 1/3 or less."
Examination of the airframe and flight control assembly revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. Continuity of the flight control system was confirmed for pitch roll and yaw.
Examination of the left and right fuel tanks revealed the fuel cap vents, and forward and aft fuel supply lines at the fuel tank were unobstructed. The forward and aft fuel supply line on the right side of the fuselage was unobstructed. The forward fuel supply line on the left side of the fuselage was not obstructed. The aft fuel supply line on the left side of the fuselage was obstructed. The line was removed and was found to be obstructed by insect larva from an undetermined source. Review of the aircraft logbooks revealed the wings were removed and recovered on July 24, 1980. No other maintenance was recorded as being performed on the wings. The engine assembly was removed from the airplane and mounted on a test stand. The engine started, ran, and developed power
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6860B
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 224160
- Airframe hours
- 2,440
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary W. Schmitt
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 24, 1999 · 36 hours before
- Departed
- NA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,840 total · 400 in this make and model · 1,750 as pilot in command · 56 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GA3
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.