# NTSB NYC91LA185: Piper PA-23-250, N54819, Templeton, MA, July 22, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 22, 1991, 16:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Templeton, MA
- Location: 42.5639° N, 72.0208° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GARDNER MUNI (GDM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5639&lon=-72.0208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36969
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36969/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA185

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS ON FIRST THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO A FAILED FUEL FITTING AND THEN THE RIGHT ENGINE DUE TO A WORN FUEL FITTING. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine
  - fuel system,line fitting - failure,total (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, go-around (vfr)
  - all engines
  - fuel system,line fitting - worn (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

DURING A DAY CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF LEFT ENGINE POWER.  NORMAL RESTART PROCEDURES WHICH INCLUDED A SELECTION OF THE CROSS-FEED POSITION FAILED TO RESTORE POWER TO THE LEFT ENGINE.  THE PILOT DIVERTED TO AN EN ROUTE AIRPORT FOR A SINGLE ENGINE APPROACH AND LANDING.  AS THE PILOT INITIATED A SINGLE ENGINE GO-AROUND, A COMPLETE POWER LOSS OCCURRED TO THE RIGHT ENGINE.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND TERRAIN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN FUEL FITTING ON THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR UNIT AND WORN THREADS ON A FUEL FITTING ON THE RIGHT ENGINE.  THIS RESULTED IN THE FUEL STARVATION POWER LOSS TO BOTH ENGINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54819](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54819-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 27-7554116, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (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: 27-7554116
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-C1A 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Charles O'Donnell
- Registered owner: J.P. Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: EEN, KEENE, NH
- Airport: GDM, Gardner Municipal, runway 36, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19910722029109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910722029109A), Jul 22, 1991: Piper PA23250, Gardner, MA, Substantial damage. Lost left engine due failed fuel fitting. Used crossfeed. Overshot. Right engine quit due worn fuel fitting.

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.

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