# NTSB MIA02LA159: Piper PA-24-250, N120S, Hernando, MS, August 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 2002, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Hernando, MS - Coordinates: 34.798332, -90.036666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7983&lon=-90.0367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55636 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55636/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA159 ## Probable cause The pilot's operation of the airplane with known deficiencies ( contaminated fuel system) which resulted in fuel starvation, a forced landing to a cotton field, and damage to the airplane during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fuel system - contamination - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The pilot said that he had trouble getting the engine started before departing on his flight, and that even though the engine was warm he had to prime it about five times to get it started. He said that while in cruise flight at 3,000 feet, all of a sudden the engine ceased operating. He said the airspeed decreased and the propeller kept wind milling, so he verified that he had been operating the airplane obtaining fuel from the right fuel tank, turned on the boost pump, primed the engine, and it started operating again. About 4 or 5 gallons of fuel was in the left tank, but more fuel was in the right tank, and he was about half way between the departure and destination points so he said he decided to continue to his destination. He said he flew for about 20 minutes and while descending to 1,700 feet the engine ceased operating again. He said he attempted to restart it again, but was unsuccessful so he executed a forced landing to a cotton field. During the landing the right wing and right main gear were damaged. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that the pilot told him that during the last annual inspection conducted in March 2002, the fuel filter was found to be partially blocked, and again in July 2002 the fuel filter drain had to be cleaned because the drain hose was also found to be blocked. Postaccident examinations of the airplane were performed by an FAA inspector and a FAA licensed mechanic, and the examinations revealed 16 gallons of fuel in the right tank, and 5 gallons of fuel in the left tank. In addition, debris was found in the fuel boost pump screen and in the carburetor. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 2002, about 1520, central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N120S, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, lost engine power while in cruise flight, and the pilot landed the airplane in a field about 8 miles southwest of Hernando, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Marks, Mississippi, the same day, about 1300. The pilot stated that the airplane was in cruise flight at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, and he was operating the engine at 2,300 rpm and 23 inches Hg, with an airspeed of about 140 knots, en route to Hernando, Mississippi, when all of a sudden the engine ceased operating. He said the airspeed decreased and the propeller kept wind milling, so he verified that he had been operating the airplane obtaining fuel from the right fuel tank, turned on the boost pump, primed the engine, and it started operating again. About 4 or 5 gallons of fuel was in the left tank, but more fuel was in the right tank, and he was about half way between the departure and destination points so he said he decided to continue on to his destination. He said he flew for about 20 minutes before the engine ceased operating again, and it happened as he descended to 1,700 feet, approaching the Memphis Class B airspace. At that time he said he was over a lake, so he elected to perform a 180-degree turn and get to a position over land. He said he could not get the engine to operate again so he executed a forced landing to a cotton field, and during the landing the right wing and right main gear were damaged. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that the pilot told him that the airplane had been difficult to start for the accident flight from Marks, Mississippi, and that the pilot said he had to prime the engine while it was still warm about five times in order to get it started. The inspector also said that the pilot told him that during his airplane's last annual inspection conducted in March 2002 the fuel filter was found to be partially blocked, and again in July 2002 the fuel filter drain had to be cleaned because the drain hose was found to be blocked. Postaccident examinations of the airplane were performed by an FAA inspector and a FAA licensed mechanic, and the examinations revealed 16 gallons of fuel in the right tank, and 5 gallons in the left tank. In addition, debris was found in the fuel boost pump screen and in the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N120S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N120S), registered now, S/N 24-125, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-125 - Airframe hours: 2550 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ammar M. Ammar - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2002 - Departed: MMS, Marks, MS - Destination: H75, Hernando, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 6, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 626 total, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 25 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 20020827023009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020827023009A), Aug 27, 2002: Piper PA24250, Hrnando, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed marks, MS (mms) for Hernando, MS (H75). Pilot reported engine hard to start at mms, had to prime warm engine five times. Engine lost… 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.