Probable cause
The inadequate maintenance and subsequent failure of an internal component in the fuel servo that prevented adequate fuel flow to the engine, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that about 10 minutes after departure the engine sustained a partial loss of power. During the forced landing to a gravel road, the airplane’s left wing contacted a tree, which resulted in substantial damage.
A postaccident engine test run was performed, and the engine would not produce rated power, so the fuel servo was removed for testing. Functional testing and examination of the fuel servo revealed that it would not deliver fuel to rated specifications due to a self-locking nut being stuck inside the top section of the plug. This resulted in the head idle spring not properly allowing fuel to flow through the ball valve.
The engine and fuel servo had both surpassed the manufacturers’ established time between overhauls by 572 hours.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN22LA186 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 30, 2022
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Loogootee, Indiana
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA32R
- N-number
- N4303P
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1983
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.