# NTSB NYC01LA081: Piper PA-38-112, N2542A, Lincoln, RI, February 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 28, 2001, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, RI - Coordinates: 41.910011, -71.450904 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9100&lon=-71.4509&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 51837 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51837/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA081 ## Probable cause The loose fuel line, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine. ## 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 - loose (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - stall - intentional, pilot in command(cfi) ## Analysis As the airplane was climbing from the runway, the engine began to "sputter," and then quit. The CFI turned the airplane towards the airport in an attempt to return to the runway. Realizing that the airplane would not make the runway, the CFI stalled the airplane into the treetops, where it came to rest suspended by tree limbs. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed an air leak at the fuel line connection on the electric fuel pump. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2001, about 1830 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2542A, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from the North Central Airport, Lincoln, Rhode Island. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) received minor injuries and the student pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the CFI, the airplane had departed from Runway 34. As the airplane was climbing through 75 feet above the ground, the engine began to "sputter." Climbing through 100 feet, the engine suddenly quit. The CFI turned the airplane towards the airport in an attempt to make it back to the runway. Realizing that the airplane would not make the runway, the CFI stalled the airplane into the treetops, where it came to rest, suspended by the tree limbs about 20 feet above the ground. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector after it was recovered from the trees, revealed absence of fuel in the mechanical fuel pump, gascolator, and carburetor. Examination of the wreckage by a Rhode Island Airport Corporation inspector revealed that the mixture control was in the "full rich" position, the fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank, and the fuel boost pump switch was "on." Fuel was observed in the fuel line located between the gascolator and electric fuel pump. When the engine primer was "pumped," fuel was observed draining from a primer injector located at an engine cylinder. When maintenance personnel examined the electric fuel pump, no fuel was present in the pump housing. When electrical power was applied to the pump, an air leak was observed at the fuel line connection on the "suction side" of the pump. After the fuel line was secured back on to the pump, the starter was engaged, and the engine was started. The engine ran for "a few minutes," and a magneto check was performed. No abnormalities with the ignition system were noted, and with all engine instruments indicating normal operation, the engine was shut down. The airplane's last 100-hour inspection was completed on February 24, 2001. The airplane had accumulated about 8 hours in service since the inspection. Attempts to obtain the aircraft maintenance logbooks from either the operator or the recovery company, by Safety Board personnel, were unsuccessful. According to the Piper PA-38-112 Maintenance Manual periodic inspections section, a mechanic was to perform an inspection of all the flexible fuel lines, inspect the fuel system for leaks, and clean the screen and check the operation of the electric fuel pump. The airplane was last fueled on the day of the accident, at 1830, with 8.7 gallons of "AVGAS." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2542A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2542A-2004-04-19), registration cancelled 2004-04-19, S/N 38-78A0745, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 78A075 - Airframe hours: 3329 - Engines: Lycoming O-230-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lincoln Flight Center Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 24, 2001, 8 hours before - Departed: SFZ, Lincoln, RI - Destination: HYA, Hyannis, MA - Airport: SFZ, North Central Airport, runway 34, 3,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 17, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 642 total, 36 in this make and model, 577 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student, flight engineer; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 12 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 290° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: SFZ, 1 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 20010228027659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010228027659A), Feb 28, 2001: Piper PA38112, Pawtucket, RI, No damage. (-23) On 02/28/2001 at approximately 1830 local, a PA38-112, N2542A departed rnwy 33 at sfz. The aircraft was on an instructional flight with two persona on… 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.