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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 7, 1992 · Piper PA-30K · N400RD

Schaghticoke, NY

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 7, 1992
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 2 uninjured
Location
Schaghticoke, NY
Aircraft
Piper PA-30K
Tail Number
N400RD
Operator
Marjo Flyers
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO92LA129

About 1 hour after takeoff, the airplane lost all electrical power. The pilot contacted the tower by a hand held radio and reported the situation. It was decided that the flight would continue to Albany, New York, where VMC existed. On approach into Albany, about 2 hours after takeoff, both engines lost total power for undetermined reasons. The pilot made an emergency landing. During the impact sequence, the main and auxiliary fuel tanks were breached. A fuel quantity could not be determined. Three quarters of a gallon of fuel was found in both the tip tanks. Examination of the wreckage showed that all switches were in the off position except for the fuel pumps and magnetos switches. Further examination of the left alternator revealed that the number 2 field wire to the terminal was broken prior to impact. The right alternator was functional. The battery was found discharged. For this airplane, one alternator provides sufficient voltage but must be selected in order to operate the electrical system.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE LOSS OF TOTAL ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF TOTAL ELECTRICAL POWER.

Full Narrative

ABOUT 1 HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE PILOT CONTACTED THE TOWER BY A HAND HELD RADIO AND REPORTED THE SITUATION. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE FLIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ALBANY, NEW YORK, WHERE VMC EXISTED. ON APPROACH INTO ALBANY, ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, BOTH ENGINES LOST TOTAL POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE, THE MAIN AND AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS WERE BREACHED. A FUEL QUANTITY COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THREE QUARTERS OF A GALLON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH THE TIP TANKS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED THAT ALL SWITCHES WERE IN THE OFF POSITION EXCEPT FOR THE FUEL PUMPS AND MAGNETOS SWITCHES. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ALTERNATOR REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 2 FIELD WIRE TO THE TERMINAL WAS BROKEN PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE RIGHT ALTERNATOR WAS FUNCTIONAL. THE BATTERY WAS FOUND DISCHARGED. FOR THIS AIRPLANE, ONE ALTERNATOR PROVIDES SUFFICIENT VOLTAGE BUT MUST BE SELECTED IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:32 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-30K
Tail NumberN400RD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMarjo Flyers
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO 320-C1A · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury), 2 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured2
Total4
Crew 1Age 37 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind180° @ 11 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 4500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 64 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data