# NTSB WPR12LA055: Piper PA-38-112, N2466D, Davis, CA, December 7, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 6, 2011, 16:30 local (Dec 7, 2011, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Davis, CA - Coordinates: 38.579166, -121.856941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5792&lon=-121.8569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82474 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82474/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82474 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before beginning the cross-country flight, the pilot did not fill the fuel tanks to capacity due to weight and balance concerns and estimated the amount of fuel onboard. While on final approach, the engine lost power. Following the loss of engine power, the pilot switched fuel tanks, but he could not recall which fuel tank the fuel selector was positioned to before the power loss. The pilot landed the airplane in a field short of the runway, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. When the airplane came to rest, the pilot positioned the fuel selector to the "off" position. Postaccident examination revealed that fuel was present in the left wing tank; however, no fuel was identified in the right wing tank. The engine was test run with no operational anomalies identified. Although the position of the fuel selector when the power loss occurred could not be determined, it is likely that it was positioned to the right fuel tank. In this position, the engine would have been unable to access fuel from the left fuel tank. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 2011, at 1630 Pacific standard time, N2466D, a Piper PA 38-112, lost engine power during approach to Yolo County Airport, Davis, California. Mazzei Flying Service was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was conducting a cross-country flight in preparation for his commercial pilot certificate. The pilot reported departing with 26 gallons of fuel. He originally departed at 1415, conducted a touch-and-go landing at Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento, California, and was on the final approach leg to his second airport of intended landing when a loss of engine power occured. The pilot force-landed the airplane in a field and it nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted. Initial responders reported that fuel seepage was present from the left wing tank and the exact fuel quantity in the tank at the time of the accident could not be determined. There was no fuel seepage from the right fuel tank. Residual fuel was found in each tank when the airplane was recovered the following morning. The engine was later test run. No operational anomalies were noted. In a conversation with the owner of the flight school, he reported that the pilot was unable to confirm how much fuel was in the airplane upon departure. Due to weight and balance requirements, the pilot had not filled the tanks to capacity and he estimated the amount of fuel onboard. He did not have a means of verifying the exact fuel quantity. Following the loss of engine power, the pilot switched fuel tanks, but could not recall to which fuel tank the fuel selector was positioned. When the airplane came to rest, the pilot positioned the fuel selector in the "Off" position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2466D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2466D-2012-06-28), registration cancelled 2012-06-28, S/N 38-79A0324, 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: 38-79A0324 - Airframe hours: 10018 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Mazzei Flying Service - Registered owner: Golden Eagle Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 2011, 42 hours before - Departed: SMF, Sacramento, CA - Destination: DWA, Davis, CA - Airport: DWA, Yolo County, runway 34, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 106 total, 106 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: EDU, 13 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 20111206027789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111206027789A), Dec 6, 2011: Piper PA-38-112, Woodland, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft accident preliminary notice narrative: lost engine power while on short final for runway 34 at the Yolo county airport (kdwa). Aircraft forced landed… ## Other investigations on N2466D (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX00LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA264), Jul 12, 2000: Piper PA-38-112 (N2466D), Selma, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A cracked plastic fuel selector handle that precluded proper engagement of the internal mechanism to fully select a port, and left it in an intermediate position, restricting the fuel supply to the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82474. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Flight School Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20School%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Airplane at Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site-Master.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.