Piper PA-28R-200 N33685

Summary

On 3 January 1990 at about 21:30 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N33685, operated by Air Chesterfield, Inc., was involved in an accident near Petersburg, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 January 1990 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Petersburg, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Petersburg Muni (PTB)

Coordinates

37.2101, -77.5008

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N33685

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Air Chesterfield, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO90LA019

Nobody was injured.

FUEL STARVATION AND IMPROPER USE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES (FUEL SELECTOR) BY THE PILOT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO CHECK THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEWLY INSTALLED/OVERHAULED ENGINE. BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE WAS RUN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR & NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE PILOT AND THE MECHANIC/PASSENGER REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED & THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT DID NOT CHANGE THE POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION & OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO FUEL CONTAMINATION OR MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. DURING THE CHECK, THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING & THE ENGINE POWER WAS LOST ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.