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March 28, 1983 · Piper PA-18A-150 · N8977D

Worland, WY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 28, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Worland, WY
Aircraft
Piper PA-18A-150
Tail Number
N8977D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN83LA086

The aircraft collided with a ditch and collapsed the landing gear during a forced landing after the engine quit during a ferry flight. The pilot refueled the empty right fuel tank and topped off the left tank with 3 gallons of fuel before the initial takeoff on the day of the accident. The pilot reported that during the flight he flew on the left tank until it was almost empty before switching to the right tank. Shortly after switching tanks the engine stopped. The pilot switched back to the left tank and was able to regain power. But soon the engine quit again and the pilot used the hand primer while switching to the right tank. The engine would not restart so the pilot selected a dirt road for landing. Investigation revealed several discrepancies in the fuel system. No filter screen was installed in the gascolator. The mixture control was not properly attached. The right fuel tank was contaminated. The right tank drain sump could not be operated. The carburetor contained water and contamination in the bottom of the float chamber.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT DURING A FERRY FLIGHT. THE PLT REFUELED THE EMPTY RIGHT FUEL TANK AND TOPPED-OFF THE LEFT TANK WITH 3 GALLONS OF FUEL BEFORE THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE FLT HE FLEW ON THE LEFT TANK UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY BEFORE SWITCHING TO THE RIGHT TANK. SHORTLY AFTER SWITCHING TANKS THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE PLT SWITCHED BACKTO THE LEFT TANK AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN POWER. BUT SOON THE ENGINE QUIT AGAIN AND THE PLT USED THE HAND PRIMER WHILE SWITCHING TO THE RIGHT TANK. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART SO THE PLT SELECTED A DIRT ROAD FOR LANDING. INVESTIGAITON REVEALED SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. NO FILTER SCREEN WAS INSTALLED IN THE GASCOLATOR. THE MIXTURE CONTROLWAS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS CONTAMINATED. THE RIGHT TANK DRAIN SUMP COULD NOT BE OPERATED. THE CARBURETOR CONTAINED WATER AND CONTAMINATION IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOAT CHAMBER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:30 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18A-150
Tail NumberN8977D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-150 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 30 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data