# NTSB NYC04LA154: Piper PA-38-112, N2364A, Lawrenceburg, KY, June 30, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 2004, 20:20 local (Jun 30, 2004, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Lawrenceburg, KY - Coordinates: 38.049999, -84.933052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0500&lon=-84.9331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 59536 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59536/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA154 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to perform a negative g maneuver, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - starvation - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence ## Analysis After the airplane was leveled at 2,500 feet, the pilot demonstrated to the passenger, the effects of G forces by "floating" a notepad. During the demonstration, the engine lost total power. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, and performed a forced landing to a field, where the fuselage and wings of the airplane were substantially damaged. The engine was successfully test ran after the accident, with no abnormalities noted. According to the airplane's Information Manual, "The shape of the wing fuel tanks is such that in certain maneuvers the fuel may move away from the tank outlet. If the outlet is uncovered, the fuel flow will be interrupted and a temporary loss of power may result. Pilots can prevent inadvertent uncovering of the outlet by avoiding maneuvers which could result in uncovering the outlet." ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2004, at 2020 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2364A, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after experiencing a loss of engine power near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and a passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the flight departed from the Capitol City Airport, Frankfort, Kentucky, with about 20 gallons of fuel. After the airplane was leveled at 2,500 feet, the pilot demonstrated to the passenger, the effects of G forces. After the demonstration, the pilot reduced power, and a few moments later, the engine lost total power. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, and performed a forced landing to a field, where the fuselage and wings of the airplane were substantially damaged. According to the passenger, he informed the pilot that "he didn't want him to do anything that would scare him" during the flight. The pilot then placed a notepad between them, and performed a maneuver that made the notebook float into the air. The engine subsequently quit thereafter. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector test ran the engine after the accident. The engine operated with no abnormalities noted. According to the PA-38-112 Information Manual, "The shape of the wing fuel tanks is such that in certain maneuvers the fuel may move away from the tank outlet. If the outlet is uncovered, the fuel flow will be interrupted and a temporary loss of power may result. Pilots can prevent inadvertent uncovering of the outlet by avoiding maneuvers which could result in uncovering the outlet." The PA-38-112 had a maximum capacity of 30 gallons of usable fuel. The airplane did not have a negative load factor, and inverted maneuvers were not approved. The pilot had accumulated 214 hours of total flight experience, with 3.5 hours in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2364A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2364A-2013-04-15), registration cancelled 2013-04-15, S/N 38-78A0656, 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: 38-78A0656 - Airframe hours: 3977 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Russell E. Bingham - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2003, 54 hours before - Departed: FFT, Frankfort, KY - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 8, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 214 total, 3 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 90 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 20040629017439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040629017439A), Jun 29, 2004: Piper PA38112, Lawrenceburg, KY, Destroyed. (-23) Darrell miller departed fft at 2015 EDT. The takeoff and climb was normal. According to the passenger's statement, Mr. Miller was illustrating negative g… 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.