MIA97LA104

The pilot noticed he was low on final approach and added power. When he advanced the throttle he said 'there was no power.' He observed that the engine RPM was 'low.' He then attempted to 'operate the throttle,' switched fuel tanks, and still had no power. The pilot could not maintain altitude, so elected to land short of the runway on grass. As the airplane touched down in the grass, the main landing gear caught a ditch, continued on the grass for about 100 yards, veered left, and the wing struck a fence post. According to the FAA inspector's statement; '...the first time the pilot stated he turned on the boost pump, reduced throttle and turned base on final. [The] pilot realized [the] approach would be short. He applied throttle with no engine response.' The second time the pilot was asked to recount the events, the pilot added, 'I applied carb heat.' Fuel was found in both tanks, the fuel selector was selected to the 'Right' tank, and fuel was found in the gascolator. The engine was test run and no discrepancies were found.

On March 30, 1997, about 1330 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N109LD, registered to Eagle Air Force Inc., crashed during a forced landing near Sarasota, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight had departed St. Petersburg, Florida, at 1300.

The pilot stated that he was cleared to land on runway 32, and while on a left base he "turned [the] fuel pump on...mixture rich, turned on carb (sic) heat, reduced power, trimmed for glide, turned final." He then noticed he was low on the final approach and added power. When he advanced the throttle he said "there was no power." He observed that the engine rpm was "low" and he then turned "off" the carburetor heat. He then "tried to operate the throttle...I switched fuel tanks, still no power." The pilot could not maintain altitude on final, so he elected to land short of the runway on grass. As the airplane touched down in the grass, the main landing gear caught a ditch, continued on the grass for about 100 yards, veered left, and the wing struck a fence post.

According to the FAA inspector's statement, during a telephone interview with the pilot, the pilot recounted the events of the accident. The inspector stated, "...the first time the pilot stated he turned on the boost pump, reduced throttle and turned base on final. [The] pilot realized [the] approach would be short. He applied throttle with no engine response." The second time the FAA inspector asked the pilot to recount the events, the pilot added, "I applied carb heat."

The FAA examined the wreckage and found fuel in both tanks, the fuel selector was selected to the "Right" tank, and fuel was found in the gascolator. The aircraft and engine were removed from the crash site and taken to a nearby hanger. The engine was run under the supervision of the FAA and the test run revealed, the engine started "normally...carb heat and magneto idle function was correct, and the engine was run to 1500 to 1600 RPM. Reported engine stoppage of unknown origin...."