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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

August 25, 1990 · Piper PA-28R201T · N31838

Longmont, CO

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 25, 1990
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Longmont, CO
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R201T
Tail Number
N31838
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN90LA174

The private pilot reported that during initial climb, the engine quit. Half the runway remained and the pilot made a forced landing from 100 feet AGL. The pilot had retracted the landing gear, but attempted to lower it for the landing. The plane touched down with the gear still in transit. The plane slid to the right side and came to rest off the end and to the right of the runway. The right wing spar was damaged. The investigation showed that the gascolator and engine fuel system contained only traces of fuel, the left tank contained 12 gallons and the right contained 5 gallons of fuel. The left tank was selected for takeoff, but the right was selected after the engine quit. A postaccident engine run was normal and provided no evidence to explain the apparent fuel interruption. FAA tests showed that with 12 gallons, the normal nose up angle for takeoff could have unported the fuel supply. These tests were conducted under field conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING WHILE THE LANDING GEAR WAS STILL IN TRANSIT.

Full Narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE QUIT. HALF THE RUNWAY REMAINED AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING FROM 100 FEET AGL. THE PILOT HAD RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR, BUT ATTEMPTED TO LOWER IT FOR THE LANDING. THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE GEAR STILL IN TRANSIT. THE PLANE SLID TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND CAME TO REST OFF THE END AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT WING SPAR WAS DAMAGED. THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE GASCOLATOR AND ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM CONTAINED ONLY TRACES OF FUEL, THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED 12 GALLONS AND THE RIGHT CONTAINED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE LEFT TANK WAS SELECTED FOR TAKEOFF, BUT THE RIGHT WAS SELECTED AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. A POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN WAS NORMAL AND PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE APPARENT FUEL INTERRUPTION. FAA TESTS SHOWED THAT WITH 12 GALLONS, THE NORMAL NOSE UP ANGLE FOR TAKEOFF COULD HAVE UNPORTED. THE FUEL SUPPLY. THESE TESTS WERE CONDUCTED UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:20 MDT
Nearest AirportVance Brand (0nm N)
Runway11
Runway Length4800 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28R201T
Tail NumberN31838
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360-FB1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 34 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 5 kt
Visibility100 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data