Piper PA-44-180 N2159Z

Summary

On 25 August 2000 at about 16:15 local time, a Piper PA-44-180 registered N2159Z was involved in an accident near Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one 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

25 August 2000 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-44-180

Registration

N2159Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Caldwell → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00FA240

1 person was seriously injured.

The flight instructor's improper placement of both fuel-selector switches, which resulted in a total loss of engine power on both engines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While at 3,000 feet with both engines operating at cruise power, the instructor induced an engine failure by moving the left fuel-selector to 'OFF.' The student asked the instructor if he wanted him to 'shut down the engine.' The instructor answered no. The student then verbalized the necessary steps for securing an engine, finishing with 'right engine to crossfeed.' After a couple of minutes, the instructor noticed that the right fuel selector was actually between 'OFF' and 'CROSSFEED.' The instructor returned the left and right fuel selectors to 'ON,' and approximately 30 to 40 seconds later both engines lost power. Several unsuccessful restarts were attempted, and the instructed executed a forced landing to a lake. The airplane touched down and both occupants exited under their own power. The airplane was recovered and both engine were examined and then run. During the examination and engine runs, no preimpact failures or malfunctions were identified. In addition, each fuel selector had three position, 'ON,' 'OFF,' and 'CROSSFEED.' To move a selector from 'ON' to 'CROSSFEED,' the selector had to be moved aft through the 'OFF' position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.