Primary finding
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons during a departure climb that resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot of the personal flight planned to remain in the departure airport’s traffic pattern. During the departure climb, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot preformed a forced landing on a field, and the airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain to the engine mount. The pilot stated that he had the fuel selector positioned to the left main fuel tank for the flight. Postaccident examination revealed 16 gallons of fuel in the left main fuel tank. Minimal fuel was found in the engine carburetor bowl, and no fuel in the fuel line leading to the carburetor, which was consistent with fuel starvation to the engine. There were no mechanical anomalies identified that would have precluded normal engine operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 5, 2022, about 1200 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235, N5078M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Monee, Illinois. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that the flight was to remain in the departure airport traffic pattern. During the departure climb, the engine lost power. He said that he checked the position of the throttle, mixture, and the magnetos. He then made a 180º turn to return to the departure airport and during the approach to the airport, he determined that the airplane was unable to make it back to the airport. He landed the airplane on a field, and the airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain to engine mount. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left tip fuel tank contained about 0.18 gallons of fuel, the left main fuel tank contained about 16 gallons of fuel, the right tip fuel tank contained no useable fuel, and the right main fuel tank contained about 6.5 gallons of fuel. The airplane battery switch was turned on, and the fuel gauge indications were as follows: left tip tank – 0 gallons, the left main tank – 5 gallons, the right tip tank – 0 gallons, the right main tank – 0 gallons. The pilot stated that he had the fuel selector on the left main fuel tank but moved it to the OFF position after the accident. The carburetor was disassembled, and the carburetor bowl contained about 0.4 inch of fuel. There was no fuel in the fuel line leading to the carburetor. No mechanical anomalies were identified during the postaccident examination that would have precluded normal engine operation.