Service difficulty report · Shutoff Valve · Piper J3C65

Difficulty date
October 17, 2002
Submitted
November 7, 2002
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N17171
Make and model
Piper J3C65
Aircraft serial
19970
Part
Shutoff Valve
Condition
Failed
Location
Fuel System
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

DURING AN INVESTIGATION OF AN AIRCRAFT INCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A POND DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AN ALTERATION TO FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE HAD BEEN PERFORMED AND WAS NOT APPROVED. AN EXTENSION TO THE VALVE WAS INSTALLED AND THE EXTENSION SWIVELLED ON THE FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE HANDLE CAUSING A FALSE INDICATION IN THE COCKPIT SHOWING THE VALVE TO BE OPEN BUT IN REALITY THE VALVE WAS CLOSED. THE SHUT OFF VALVE WAS PROBABLY PARTIALLY OPEN BUT THE EXTENSION WAS 90 DEGREES TO THE HANDLE AND WAS BUMPED DURING FLIGHT WHILE PICTURES WERE BEING TAKEN CAUSING THE FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE TO CLOSE AND ENGINE TO QUIT.

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