Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28R-201T near Holdrege, NE — 2013-07-19

Final reportCEN13FA429
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Date
2013-07-19
Location
Holdrege, NE, USA
Airport
HDE
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28R-201T
Registration
N31698
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The loss of engine power during takeoff due to the activation of the primer diverter valve.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the takeoff and climb were normal but that, about 700 to 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine stopped generating power even though the engine and propeller were still turning. Despite troubleshooting efforts, the pilot was unable to restore engine power; he stated that he heard intermittent backfire noise from the engine. While troubleshooting, the pilot banked the airplane back toward the airport but it was not at sufficient altitude to reach it, so he chose to land on a trail road. The pilot had to steer the airplane to the right to avoid a large pipe. Subsequently, the airplane's right wing contacted corn stalks, and the airplane came to rest in the cornfield. The airplane was equipped with an optional engine primer system, which included an electrically operated primer diverter valve connected to two primer nozzles, located in the metered fuel supply line between the air throttle valve and the manifold valve on each side of the engine. Actuation of the engine primer switch operates the auxiliary electric fuel pump and energizes the diverter valve that supplies fuel to each primer nozzle. Downloaded data from an engine monitor revealed that, about 2 minutes after takeoff, the fuel flow to the engine decreased from about 18 gallons per hour to about 2 gallons per hour and that four of the six cylinders' exhaust gas temperatures and cylinder head temperatures decreased rapidly. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane's electric fuel pump activated when the battery was reconnected and the electric fuel pump selector was in the "off" position. The engine started, but it did not run smoothly. The engine was removed from the airplane and subsequently run in a test cell, and it was operational. The engine was test run again with the diverter valve electrically actuated; the engine subsequently ran roughly at low power and backfired. The panel-mounted primer switch was examined, and it did not exhibit any anomalies. The engine test run with the activation of the primer diverter valve duplicated the pilot's report of a loss of engine power and subsequent backfiring.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel system before takeoff to prevent power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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