Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

April 30, 2022 · Piper PA32R 301 · N4303P

Loogootee, IN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 30, 2022
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Loogootee, IN
Aircraft
Piper PA32R 301 (1983)
Tail Number
N4303P
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN22LA186

The pilot reported that about 10 minutes after departure the engine sustained a partial loss of power. During the forced landing to a gravel road, the airplane’s left wing contacted a tree, which resulted in substantial damage. A postaccident engine test run was performed, and the engine would not produce rated power, so the fuel servo was removed for testing. Functional testing and examination of the fuel servo revealed that it would not deliver fuel to rated specifications due to a self-locking nut being stuck inside the top section of the plug. This resulted in the head idle spring not properly allowing fuel to flow through the ball valve. The engine and fuel servo had both surpassed the manufacturers’ established time between overhauls by 572 hours.

NTSB Probable Cause

The inadequate maintenance and subsequent failure of an internal component in the fuel servo that prevented adequate fuel flow to the engine, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

Full Narrative

On April 30, 2022, about 0810 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301 airplane, N4303P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Loogootee, Indiana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that he and a passenger departed Huntingburg Airport (HNB), Huntingburg, Indiana, and were en route to Putnam County Regional Airport (GPC), Greencastle, Indiana. About 10 minutes after departure, while in cruise flight at 3,000 ft mean sea level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a gravel road. During the landing, the airplane’s left wing contacted a tree resulting in substantial damage. The airplane was transported to a recovery facility for further examination. After the airplane was recovered, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine and could not find any anomalies with the engine. An engine functional test run was conducted, and full engine rpm could not be achieved. The fuel servo and fuel flow divider were removed and sent for further examination. Testing of the fuel servo found that it could not deliver more than 22 pounds per hour of fuel, which was less than the rated specifications. Disassembly discovered that the self-locking nut (p/n 2539449) was stuck inside the top section of the plug. This resulted in the head idle spring not properly allowing fuel to flow through the ball valve. The FAA inspector was informed by the mechanic that the fuel servo was overhauled at the same time as the engine, in March 2002, at a total time of 2,011.1 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued 4,383.3 hours. Precision Airmotive Service Bulletin PRS-97 revision 2, dated November 22, 2013, established the time between overhaul for all designated fuel system components to be the same as the engine manufacturer or 12 years, whichever occurred first. Lycoming established a time between overhaul of 1,800 hours.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:10 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA32R 301
Tail NumberN4303P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 80 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 4800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 57 F
Altimeter29.92 inHg
Observation Time08:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data