NYC94LA103

The pilot was cruising at 9500 feet, at night, when he experienced a power loss. He was unable to reach an airport and made a forced landing in the surf, next to the Beach. Post accident investigation by the FAA found 5 to 10 gallons of fuel in the right tank and the left tank empty. Additionally, the fuel line to the carburetor was empty and the fuel system was intact. Further examination failed to find a reason for the lack of fuel flow to the engine.

On June 30, 1994, at 2248 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 24-250, N6375P, piloted by Mr. Gerard L. Brown, of Coral Springs, Florida, landed in the surf, next to the beach, in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, after the engine lost power. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91.

The flight originated in Sebastian, Florida, with a fuel stop at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The pilot was enroute to Farmingdale, New York, at 9500 feet, and receiving traffic advisories from the New York Approach Control (TRACON) when the power loss occurred. The TRACON attempted to vector the airplane toward the Allaire Airport, Farmingdale, New Jersey, however, the pilot said he could not reach the airport, and set up for an off airport landing.

Post accident investigation by the FAA found fuel in the right tank, estimated to be approximately 5 to 10 gallons. No fuel was found in the left fuel tank, and the fuel line to the carburetor was empty. Additionally, the FAA reported the fuel system was intact with no breaks.

Post accident examination of the airplane by Monmouth Aircraft Service, Inc, Farmingdale, New Jersey, failed to find any evidence of blockage in the fuel line between the tanks and the fuel selector valve. In addition, the fuel vent system was found to be :...clear and normal...." No foreign objects were found inside the right hand fuel tank.

The airplane was equipped with two wing tanks. Each tank had a capacity of 30 gallons. The pilot indicated the fuel burn on the first leg was 15 gallons per hour, and on the second leg was 12 - 13 gallons per hours. The FAA reported his departure time from Grand Strand Airport as 1935. According to radar data from the New York TRACON, the airplane initiated a descent from 9500 between 2233:58 and 2236:00. The last recorded altitude was 200 feet at 2247:50.

Records indicated that the airplane was refueled with 38.5 gallons at Grand Stand Airport. The refueler who was a flight instructor reported that 90 percent of the fuel went into the left tank and both tanks were full. Additionally, he reported the pilot said he had a power loss while selected to the right tank and inbound to Grand Strand Airport.