# NTSB WPR18TA236: Piper PA28, N98146, Mokuleia, HI, August 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: August 20, 2018, 17:05 local (Aug 21, 2018, 03:05 UTC) - Place: Mokuleia, HI - Coordinates: 21.578056, -158.181671 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.5781&lon=-158.1817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 98131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18TA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98131/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98131 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA236 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the flight instructor's inadequate preflight inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, before the flight, he requested that the airplane be refueled, and his subsequent preflight inspection revealed that the airplane had been fueled to the specified level. While conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings during the instructional flight, the engine lost power about 300 ft above ground level, and the instructor performed a forced landing to an open field adjacent to the runway. The airplane impacted a fence and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination revealed that the right-wing fuel tank contained about 7 to 8 gallons of fuel, with a slow fuel leak, and the left-wing fuel tank was void of fuel and undamaged. The fuel selector was positioned to the left-wing tank. An engine test run revealed no anomalies. Interviews with the staff of the fixed base operator from which the instructor ordered fuel revealed that a fuel order was received for the accident airplane; however, the airplane was not refueled before the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2018, about 1705 Hawaii standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N98146, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mokuleia, Hawaii. The flight instructor, student pilot, and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that, before the flight, he called the fixed base operator (FBO) and requested that the airplane be refueled "to the tabs." A preflight inspection revealed no anomalies, and the fuel was at the tab level as requested. They departed on the flight and conducted maneuvers at altitude before returning to the airport for touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. While taking off during the third touch-and-go, the engine lost power about 300 feet above ground level. The instructor took control of the airplane and initiated a forced landing to an open field south of the runway. During the landing, the airplane impacted a fence and came to rest upright. The student pilot reported that the flight instructor did the exterior preflight inspection of the airplane, and only recalled him looking in the right-wing fuel tank to verify the fuel level. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing and fuselage sustained structural damage. The inspector reported that, during recovery of the wreckage, the left-wing fuel tank contained no fuel and was undamaged, and the right-wing fuel tank contained about 7 to 8 gallons of fuel, with a slow fuel leak. The fuel selector valve inside the airplane was set to the left-wing fuel tank, and all other engine controls were in the "off" position. The instructor reported to the inspector that, after the initial egress, he reentered the airplane and placed all controls in the off position and but did not touch the fuel selector. In order to facilitate an engine run, the starter was replaced, and one ignition lead was repaired. The engine ran uneventfully for an unspecified amount of time before it was shut down. The manager of the FBO reported that they received a request for fuel on the day of the accident for the accident airplane; however, they did not refuel the airplane. The FBO employee that was conducting aircraft refueling the day of the accident reported that he never received a call from his dispatch to refuel the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98146](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98146-2019-11-15), registration cancelled 2019-11-15, S/N 28-26072, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (140) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-26072 - Year built: 1969 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aviation Academy Hawaii - Registered owner: Alana Aviation Inc Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 16, 2018, 85 hours before - Departed: HLN, Honolulu, HI - Destination: HLN, Honolulu, HI - Airport: HDH, Dillingham Airfield, runway 08, 9,007 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 72; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2016; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 8,281.9 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 162.5 in the last 90 days, 57.7 in the last 30 days, 2.5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 17; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model, 12.1 in the last 90 days, 9.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PHHI, 10 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 20180820011859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180820011859A), Aug 20, 2018: Piper PA-28-140, Mokuleia, HI, Substantial damage. Mokuleia, HI (hdh): N98146, PA28A, engine failure after takeoff portion of touch and go during flight instruction, crashed in field just south of hdh. POB: 3,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98131. 10.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 9.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8643960&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8645349&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=student%20pilot%20sstatement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - FBO manager (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8645931&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FBO%20Manager-Rel.pdf - Refuelers statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 234 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8643558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuelers%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA engine run email (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8645223&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=faa%20engine%20run%20report_Redacted-Rel.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.