# NTSB MIA01LA136: Piper PA-32R-300, N38261, Wilmington, NC, April 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2001, 11:12 local (15:12 UTC) - Place: Wilmington, NC - Coordinates: 34.270404, -77.959114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2704&lon=-77.9591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52174/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA136 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the failure of maintenance to properly secure the fuel selector cover, resulting in the pilot inadvertently selecting "off" instead of "left" tank, and the subsequent forced landing to uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fuel system,fuel shutoff - deployed inadvertently - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis Within 3 miles of landing, as the pilot was completing his before landing check list, the engine surged to 2,700 rpm two or three times, and then stopped developing power, completely. The pilot thought his best alternative was a forced landing to a corn field, which was accomplished but the airframe sustained substantial damage. Post crash examination by FAA inspectors revealed adequate fuel was aboard. Examination of engine, fuel, ignition, and airframe components revealed the fuel selector cover assembly was loose, missing mounting screws, and had shifted aft of its designed position. Such a repositioning would render the mechanical safety stop that would prevent an inadvertent switch to "off" inoperative. A search of the aircraft maintenance logs revealed an entry where the aircraft seats, door panels, plastic, and carpeting were removed for replacement or cleaning. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2001, about 1112 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, N38261, registered to ZQJ Corporation, operating as a 14 Title CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in the vicinity of Wilmington, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight plan had been filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed Newport News, Virginia, about 1 hour 22 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, during his in-range descent for New Hanover International Airport, Wilmington, for landing, he selected the fuel boost pump on, enriched the mixture to full rich, switched the fuel selector from the right to the left fuel tank, and advanced the propeller control to full increase as part of his before landing checklist. Engine rpm increased to about 2,700 rpm, began surging, and then the engine stopped developing power. Estimating his position as 3 miles from runway 24, and at an altitude of 1,100 feet msl, he determined his best alternative field was a corn field about 2 to 3 miles short of the airport. The forced landing resulted in substantial damage to the landing gear, wings, and empennage. He confirmed that he saw full fuel tanks during his walk-around inspection before departing Newport News. (The fixed-base operator at Newport News, Rick Aviation, confirmed that N38261 was fuelled with 33.5 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel, and that the amount represented a top-off). The pilot stated that he switched fuel tanks from right to left about 3 minutes before the loss of power. According to an FAA inspector, on-site examination of the aircraft revealed that neither fuel tank was compromised during the forced landing, and about 30 to 40 gallons of uncontaminated fuel were removed from the left wing tank and about 10 to 15 gallons were removed from the right wing tank. The wreckage was transported to a fixed-base operator on the Wilmington airport where the engine, fuel system, and ignition system were examined for failure or malfunction, with FAA oversight. The fuel selector valve cover assembly was found loose and missing screws that normally secure it to the cockpit floorboards. This allowed the assembly to slide aft of its normal position relative to the mechanical fuel selector handle/arrow point indicator that is attached to the fuel selector valve. The mechanical safety stop is mounted on the valve cover assembly and due to its inadvertent repositioning aft, allowed the fuel selector handle to bypass the mechanical safety stop and allow unobstructed movement all the way to the "off" position, or any position between "left tank" and "off". A pilot who was accustomed to switching his fuel source from right to left tank by simply positioning the fuel selector to the left limit of travel, assuming the safety stop was in place, would, in actuality position the fuel selector to the "off" position. Reference to the aircraft maintenance logbook shows an entry made on July, 26, 1994, indicating that the seats, sidewalls, seatbelts, plastic and carpet were removed for recovering or cleaning. Photographs of the fuel selector valve cover assembly and how the mechanical safety stop was allowed to migrate rearward are an attachment to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38261](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38261-2011-04-27), registration cancelled 2011-04-27, S/N 32R-7780408, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780408 - Airframe hours: 3041 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: ZQJ Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2001, 24 hours before - Departed: PHF, Newport News, VA - Destination: ILM, Wilmington, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ILM, New Hanover International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 5, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 41 in this make and model, 108 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: ILM, 3 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 20010428008549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010428008549A), Apr 28, 2001: Piper PA32R300, Wilmington, NC, Substantial damage. (.19)On April 28, 2001, about 1125 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, N38261, registered to zqj corporation, operating as a 14 title CFR part 91… 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.