Piper PA-28R-180 N7453J

Summary

On 16 November 2005 at about 01:53 local time, a Piper PA-28R-180 registered N7453J, operated by Dwayne Harris, was involved in an accident near Heathrow, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 November 2005 at 01:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Heathrow, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.7631, -81.3681

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-180

Registration

N7453J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dwayne Harris

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sanford → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

MIA06LA019

2 people had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing in a residential area.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with trees, a house and then the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. According to the pilot during the preflight inspection he noted the fuel level in the left tank to be nearly full, and the fuel level in the right tank to be slightly above the tab. He further stated that after several touch-and-go landings and one full stop landing at various airports, he proceeded back to Orlando Sanford International Airport (KSFB). During descent to KSFB, the engine went to idle and was operating rough, but did not lose power. The pilot recalls advancing the mixture control to full rich, verifying that auxiliary fuel pump was in the "on" position, and that the fuel selector valve was in the left tank position. After changing the fuel selector valve to the right tank position, which had no affect on engine performance, he trimmed the airplane for 80 knots and executed an emergency descent to landing on a small community road. The airplane impacted the roof of a house and trees during the landing. The fuel selector was found halfway between the right tank and one of the off detents. Fuel was found in the fuel strainer, fuel lines in the engine compartment, and fuel distributor valve. An operational test of the fuel selector valve in the "as found" position was performed by blowing air into the gascolator inlet; resistance was noted. The same test was then performed by blowing air into the gascolator inlet with the fuel selector positioned to each respective tank, no resistance was noted. No discrepancies with the engine were noted during the postaccident examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.