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August 21, 2018 · Piper PA28 140 · N98146

Mokuleia, HI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 21, 2018
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 minor injuries)
Location
Mokuleia, HI
Aircraft
Piper PA28 140 (1969)
Tail Number
N98146
Operator
Aviation Academy Hawaii
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR18TA236

The flight instructor reported that, before the flight, he requested that the airplane be refueled, and his subsequent preflight inspection revealed that the airplane had been fueled to the specified level. While conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings during the instructional flight, the engine lost power about 300 ft above ground level, and the instructor performed a forced landing to an open field adjacent to the runway. The airplane impacted a fence and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination revealed that the right-wing fuel tank contained about 7 to 8 gallons of fuel, with a slow fuel leak, and the left-wing fuel tank was void of fuel and undamaged. The fuel selector was positioned to the left-wing tank. An engine test run revealed no anomalies. Interviews with the staff of the fixed base operator from which the instructor ordered fuel revealed that a fuel order was received for the accident airplane; however, the airplane was not refueled before the accident flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the flight instructor's inadequate preflight inspection.

Full Narrative

On August 20, 2018, about 1705 Hawaii standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N98146, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mokuleia, Hawaii. The flight instructor, student pilot, and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that, before the flight, he called the fixed base operator (FBO) and requested that the airplane be refueled "to the tabs." A preflight inspection revealed no anomalies, and the fuel was at the tab level as requested. They departed on the flight and conducted maneuvers at altitude before returning to the airport for touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. While taking off during the third touch-and-go, the engine lost power about 300 feet above ground level. The instructor took control of the airplane and initiated a forced landing to an open field south of the runway. During the landing, the airplane impacted a fence and came to rest upright. The student pilot reported that the flight instructor did the exterior preflight inspection of the airplane, and only recalled him looking in the right-wing fuel tank to verify the fuel level. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing and fuselage sustained structural damage. The inspector reported that, during recovery of the wreckage, the left-wing fuel tank contained no fuel and was undamaged, and the right-wing fuel tank contained about 7 to 8 gallons of fuel, with a slow fuel leak. The fuel selector valve inside the airplane was set to the left-wing fuel tank, and all other engine controls were in the "off" position. The instructor reported to the inspector that, after the initial egress, he reentered the airplane and placed all controls in the off position and but did not touch the fuel selector. In order to facilitate an engine run, the starter was replaced, and one ignition lead was repaired. The engine ran uneventfully for an unspecified amount of time before it was shut down. The manager of the FBO reported that they received a request for fuel on the day of the accident for the accident airplane; however, they did not refuel the airplane. The FBO employee that was conducting aircraft refueling the day of the accident reported that he never received a call from his dispatch to refuel the accident airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:05 HST
Nearest AirportDillingham Airfield (1nm E)
Runway08
Runway Length9007 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA28 140
Tail NumberN98146
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAviation Academy Hawaii
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 SERIES · Reciprocating
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor3
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 72 · Second Class · Minor
Crew 2Age 17 · First Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time02:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data