Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary BFO86LA045

FREDERICKSBURG, VA, USA

Aircraft #1

N4350K

PIPER PA-28-181

Analysis

THE ACFT NOSED OVER DRG A FORCED LNDG FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF PWR DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT RPRTD THAT BOTH HE &THE PASSENGERS VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TO VERIFY THAT THEY WERE FULL OF FUEL. THE PWR LOSS OCCURRED APRX 25 MI FROM THE DESTN. THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS & WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENG WHICH OPERATED FOR 2 TO 3 MIN BEFORE QUITTING AGAIN. THE ACFT CLEARED PWR LINES DRG THE FORCED LNDG APCH; HOWEVER, IT TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON ROUGH GROUND & NOSED OVER WHILE ROLLING ON UPHILL TERRAIN. THE PLT RPRTD THE EN ROUTE FLT TIME WAS 1 HR & 35 MIN; HOWEVER, A POLICE RPRT INDICATED A TIME OF AT LEAST 3 HRS & 5 MIN. FUEL CONSUMPITON DRG A 2.5 HR FLT ON THE PREVIOUS DAY WAS APRX 11 GPH. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE WAS FOUND AT THE ACDNT SITE. THE ACFT WAS CHECKED FOR FUEL LEAKS & NONE WERE FOUND. THE PLT STATED THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS WERE INACCURATE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE ACCURATE DRG A POST ACDNT EXAM.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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