Piper PA-28-180 N2184T accident near Conway, Arkansas

Probable cause

The student pilot's improper movement of the fuel selector to the OFF position, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting an instructional flight in an airplane in which the student had only accumulated 1.2 hours of flight time. During the flight, the student performed one touch-and-go landing, then continued in the traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg, their preset fuel reminder to switch fuel tanks alerted on the GPS. At the direction of the flight instructor, the student turned on the fuel pump and repositioned the fuel selector handle to what he thought was the left fuel tank position. Shortly after, the student noted that the engine would not respond to throttle inputs and had sustained a loss of power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The student reported that during the egress he turned the fuel selector handle to the OFF position. The flight instructor stated that he did not direct the student to switch the fuel selector to the OFF position after the accident and he did not recall any postaccident discussion about the fuel selector.

Postaccident examination of the airplane found that the fuel selector handle was positioned toward the OFF position, but it was not completely seated in the detent. A subsequent detailed examination determined that the fuel selector valve worked as expected with a steady flow of fuel when positioned to the left tank and right tank positions. There was no fuel flow when positioned to OFF. When the handle was moved to the same position where it was found after the accident, the fuel flow was restricted and would not have provided enough fuel flow for the engine to increase power when the throttle was advanced. There were no other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Given that the loss of engine power occurred shortly after changing the fuel selector handle, it is likely that the student pilot inadvertently placed the fuel selector toward the OFF position, thus resulting in fuel starvation after the available fuel in the fuel system forward of the fuel selector to the engine had been exhausted. The flight instructor was unable to confirm the fuel selection during the flight because the selector handle was installed on the sidewall behind the student’s left leg.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA108 for the full record.