Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA32R near Loogootee, IN — 2022-04-30

Final reportCEN22LA186
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Date
2022-04-30
Location
Loogootee, IN, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA32R
Registration
N4303P
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

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.

NTSB narrative

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.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have returned to airport after initial engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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