ELKO, NV, USA
N9148A
PIPER PA-38
PLT EXECUTED FORCED LNDG FOLLOWING PWR LOSS ON INITIAL CLIMB. ACFT TANKS (16 GAL CAP EA) HAD BEEN TOPPED TWO HOURS PRIOR, FUEL RECEIPT SHOWS 16.6 ADDED, REFUELER RECALLED ABT 8 GALS ADDED PER TANK. PLT CHECKED VISUALLY AND ON GAGES DURING PREFLIGHT. POST-CRASH, OPERATOR REPORTED FINDING ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL FWD OF SELECTOR (ENGINE FUEL STARVATION), 16 GALS IN RT TANK, 3 GALS IN LEFT TANK, NO LEAKS IN FUEL SYSTEM. ENGINE TEST RUN NORMAL. REPORTED FACTS ARE IN CONFLICT REGARDING FULL FUEL AND FINDING OF 3 GALS IN LEFT TANK WITH NO LEAKAGE. ANALYSIS PROVIDES NO SCENARIO WHICH WILL FIT REPORTED FACTS, EVEN IF UNDETECTED POST-CRASH FUEL LEAK DRAINED LEFT TANK TO 3 GALS. EXTREME (9500 FT) DENS ATL APPARENTLY NOT A FACTOR. PWR LOSS DUE TO ENGINE FUEL STARVATION FOR UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
