# NTSB NYC03LA051: Piper PA-31-350, N130CM, Taylor Mill, KY, February 16, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2003, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Taylor Mill, KY - Coordinates: 39.008056, -84.483055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0081&lon=-84.4831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56504 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56504/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56504 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's inaccurate in-flight planning and fuel consumption calculations, and his improper decision not to land and refuel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - all engines - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis According to the pilot, he planned the estimated the 726 statute mile flight would take approximately 3 hours and 46 minutes, with one stop to pick up cargo. The available fuel for the flight was 182 gallons, which equaled an approximate 4 hour and 55 minutes endurance, assuming a 40 gallon per hour fuel burn. The flight proceeded uneventfully to the first stop; the airplane was not fueled, and it departed. As the flight neared the destination airport, the pilot began to get nervous because the main tanks were "going fast." He switched to the auxiliary fuel tanks, to "get all of the fuel out of them," and switched back to the main tanks. While executing an approach to the airport, the pilot advised the approach controller that he had lost power to the right engine, and then shortly thereafter, reported losing power to the left engine. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a railroad yard. After touching down, the left wing struck a four-foot high dirt mound, and separated from the main fuselage. The airplane came to rest upright on a railroad track. The pilot additionally stated that the loss of power to both engines was due to fuel exhaustion, and poor fuel planning. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2003, at 1520 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-31-350, N130CM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after a total loss of power to both engines near Taylor Mill, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed the cargo flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135. According to the pilot, the flight originated at the Manhattan Regional Airport, Manhattan, Kansas, and was destined for the Cincinnati Municipal Airport (LUK), Cincinnati, Ohio, with a stop in Concordia, Kansas. Prior to departing from Manhattan, the pilot planned the estimated the 726 statute mile flight would take approximately 3 hours and 46 minutes. The available fuel for the flight was 182 gallons, which equaled an approximate 4 hour and 55 minutes endurance, assuming a 40 gallon per hour fuel burn. The flight proceeded uneventfully to Manhattan, where the pilot picked up his cargo, and departed for Cincinnati. The airplane was not fueled during the stop at Manhattan. As the flight neared Cincinnati, the pilot began to get nervous because the main tanks were "going fast." He switched to the auxiliary fuel tanks, to "get all of the fuel out of them," and switched back to the main tanks while over Covington, Kentucky. While executing the Runway 3R Back Course Localizer approach at LUK, the pilot advised the approach controller that he had lost power to the right engine, and then shortly thereafter, reported losing power to the left engine. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a railroad yard. After touching down, the left wing struck a four-foot high dirt mound, and separated from the main fuselage. The airplane came to rest upright on a railroad track. The pilot additionally stated that the loss of power to both engines was due to fuel exhaustion, and poor fuel planning. The pilot reported 3,050 hours of total flight experience, with 240 hours in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N130CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N130CM-2005-07-20), registration cancelled 2005-07-20, S/N 31-7652142, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7652142 - Airframe hours: 8337 - Engines: Textron Lycoming LTIO540J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating; Textron Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Kansas Air Center Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2003, 31 hours before - Departed: MHK, Manhattan, KS - Destination: LUK, CINCINNATI, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LUK, Cincinnati Municipal, runway 3 R, 6,101 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 9, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 3,050 total, 240 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LUK, 8 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 20030216001819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030216001819A), Feb 16, 2003: Piper PA31350, Taylorsmill, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) N130CM was on the localizer approach to luk when the pilot gregory burgess, reported losing the right engine. A few minutes later, the left engine failed… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56504. 343 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.