Piper PA 28-140 N95118

Summary

On 10 April 2016 at about 23:07 local time, a Piper PA 28-140 registered N95118 was involved in an accident near Bayport, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 April 2016 at 23:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Bayport, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Bayport Aerodrome (23N)

Coordinates

40.7528, -73.0536

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-140

Registration

N95118

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bayport → Montgomery

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA152

2 people were seriously injured.

Maintenance personnel’s improper installation and maintenance of the fuel selector valve, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane's engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to return to land at the airport, but the airplane was too low and struck trees and power lines; a postimpact fire ensued. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector valve was loose and did not fit securely into its respective detents. The valve was removed and exhibited blue-colored staining consistent with a fuel leak. The valve was disassembled, and numerous tool marks were observed on the valve cap, consistent with it having been disassembled many times. Removal of the valve's internal components revealed that they were not installed in the order outlined in the airplane's service manual. Additionally, the valve's components were worn; the position washer, which keeps the valve from rotating beyond the detents, was worn on both sides and appeared to have been inverted and reused rather than being replaced. According to the airplane's service manual, the fuel selector is to be inspected every 400 hours. The inspection requires the valve cap and the internal components to be removed and inspected, including the position washer, for signs of extreme wear. If the position washer exhibits such wear, it should be replaced. The valve was examined about 98.1 hours before the accident, at which time only an O-ring was replaced; at a minimum, the valve components' wear should have been evident at that time. The condition of the fuel selector and its internal components, particularly the position washer, is consistent with improper installation and maintenance, which allowed the fuel selector valve to be placed in a position between detents and resulted in fuel starvation to the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.