# NTSB NYC00LA051: Piper PA-22-108, N5279Z, Wales, ME, December 12, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 12, 1999, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Wales, ME - Location: 44.1639° N, 70.0540° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Town of Wales, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1639&lon=-70.0540&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47894 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47894/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA051 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to a blocked fuel feed line. ## 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 - fuel system,line - blocked(total) (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane's engine sputtered, and then lost total power. The pilot initiated a right turn and performed a forced landing to a field. After the accident, 5 gallons of fuel was drained from the left fuel tank, and 7 gallons of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank. Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed a total blockage in the left fuel tank's aft feed line in the vicinity a bend near the fuel tank connection. According to the FAA Inspector's report, '...the bend in the line was clogged with what appeared to be hard packed sand....' There were no other pre-impact discrepancies noted. The pilot said he had selected the left fuel tank for the takeoff, as per the Airplane's Operating Handbook. Additionally, the pilot stated that the airplane had been flown for about 15 to 20 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 2 months before the accident. For about 6 weeks prior to the annual inspection, the airplane was parked in a 'T-Hangar' with both wings removed. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 1999, about 1530 Eastern Standard Time, a Piper PA-22-108, N5279Z, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after it lost engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from the Wales Airport, Wales, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Twitchell Airport, Turner, Maine. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane departed Runway 04, a 2,100 foot long, 80 foot wide turf runway. According to the pilot, when the airplane reached about 200 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine sputtered, and then lost total power. The pilot initiated a right turn and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing the airplane contacted the top of a knoll and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. After the accident, 5 gallons of fuel was drained from the left fuel tank, and 7 gallons of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank. Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed a total blockage in the left fuel tank's aft feed line in the vicinity a bend near the fuel tank connection. According to the FAA Inspector's report, "...the bend in the line was clogged with what appeared to be hard packed sand...." There were no other pre-impact discrepancies noted. In a follow-up interview, the pilot said he had selected the left fuel tank for the takeoff, as per the Airplane's Operating Handbook. Additionally, the pilot stated that the airplane had been flown for about 15 to 20 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on October 22, 1999. For about 6 weeks prior to the annual inspection, the airplane was parked in a "T-Hangar" with both wings removed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5279Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5279Z-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 22-8974, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-108 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-8974 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James S. Elder - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1999, 20 hours before - Departed: ME6 - Destination: 3B5, TURNER, ME - Airport: ME6, Wales, runway 4, 2,100 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,234 total, 92 in this make and model, 1,189 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LEW, 16 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 19991212043739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991212043739A), Dec 12, 1999: Piper PA22108, Wales, ME, Substantial damage. (.4) During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane's engine sputtered, and then lost total power. The pilot initiated a right turn and performed a… 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.