# NTSB NYC03IA011: Piper PA-28-236, N4295R, Altoona, PA, October 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 2002, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Altoona, PA - Coordinates: 40.284442, -78.316947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2844&lon=-78.3169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55918 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03IA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55918/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03IA011 ## Probable cause A failure of the fuel selector for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, climb - fuel system,selector/valve - malfunction (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis During takeoff and after reaching 300 feet agl, the engine started to run "very rough." The pilot switched from the right fuel tank to the left, the engine continued to run rough, and the fuel pressure gauge indicated zero. With insufficient power to maintain flight, the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. An engine run was performed, but was limited to 1,500 RPM because of propeller damage. The left and right fuel tanks were selected, and no anomalies were identified. The engine was then removed, and sent to the manufacturer for overhaul where no preimpact failures or malfunctions were identified. The engine was reinstalled, and the airplane painted. While taxing the airplane after being painted, the engine lost power. The pilot noted that the engine would run normally when the right tank was selected, but when the left was selected, fuel pressure would drop to zero, and the engine would lose power. The pilot had the fuel selector removed, and examined. No anomalies were identified, and no obstructions were found in the fuel line that ran from the left fuel tank to the fuel selector. The fuel selector was replaced with a new one, and the problem did not reoccur. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2002, about 0830 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-236, N4295R, sustained minor damaged during a forced landing near the Altoona-Blair County Airport (AOO), Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a partial loss of engine power. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local maintenance flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to check the autopilot system on the airplane. He noticed no anomalies with the airplane during preflight, taxi, or the engine runup checks. The pilot taxied the airplane onto the runway, advanced the throttle, and departed. After reaching 300 feet agl, the engine started to run "very rough." He switched from the right fuel tank to the left, and noticed that the vertical speed (VSI) was indicating a 700 fpm climb. After completing the emergency checklist, the pilot noticed that the climb rate had slowed to 200 fpm. The climb rate reduced further, and the airplane started to descend. During the descent, the pilot reduced the throttle and the roughness decreased. He then reapplied the throttle, and the roughness increased. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot selected a forced landing area, secured the engine, and selected full flaps. The airplane touched down in a field, and began to rollout. The pilot maintained backpressure on the control yoke until the airplane impacted an embankment. The airplane came to rest, the pilot retracted the flaps, and shutdown the remaining aircraft systems before exiting. The pilot stated that an engine run was performed after the accident, and that power was increased to 1,500 RPM. The left and right fuel tanks were selected, and no anomalies were identified. Because of propeller damage, engine power was not increased above 1,500 RPM. The engine was then removed, and sent to the manufacturer for overhaul. During the overhaul process, no preimpact failures or malfunctions were identified. The engine was then reinstalled, and the airplane painted. While taxing the airplane after being painted, the engine lost power. The pilot noted that the engine would run normally when the right tank was selected, but not the left. When the left was selected, fuel pressure would drop to zero, and the engine would lose power. The pilot had the fuel selector removed, and examined. No anomalies were identified, and no obstructions were found in the fuel line that ran from the left fuel tank to the fuel selector. The pilot elected to change the fuel selector, and the problem did not reoccur. In addition, the pilot remembered that the fuel pressure gauge indicated zero when he was performing the forced landing for the original loss of power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4295R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4295R), registered now, S/N 28-8311014, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-236 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236) (registry code 7102815) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8311014 - Airframe hours: 1680 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy E. Reffner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 2001, 80 hours before - Departed: AOO, Altoon, PA - Destination: AOO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 29, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 702 total, 502 in this make and model, 651 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: AOO, 200 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). - [Incident 20021018030909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021018030909I), Oct 18, 2002: Piper PA28236, Altoona, PA, Minor damage. (-23) Follow-up visit to aoo 10-31-02 revealed minor damage to RH wing. Performed engine start and run, engine idle check and low RPM mag check, and fuel… 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.