Piper PA-32-260 N3797W accident near Green Valley, Arizona

Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, while conducting a cross-country flight, he noted that the airplane’s generator breaker was malfunctioning. He chose to continue the flight on battery backup, cycling the battery power on and off throughout the remainder of the flight to conserve power. While the airplane was climbing through 6,300 ft mean sea level (msl) about 20 miles north of the planned rest stop, the engine began to sputter. While troubleshooting, the pilot turned on the electric fuel pump and switched fuel tanks. Despite his attempts to troubleshoot, the engine lost total power. The pilot determined that the airplane could not maintain flight to reach the nearest airport. He initiated a forced landing to a dirt road, during which the airplane’s left wing struck a dirt berm and sustained substantial damage.

Although the airplane was equipped with an engine monitor capable of recording numerous parameters related to engine operation, the unit contained no data. It is likely that, due to the electrical power interruption during the flight, the engine monitor did not record any data.

Examinations of the recovered airframe and engine, which included an engine run, revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. About 20 to 25 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left main tank, but the right main and both tip tanks were devoid of fuel. The fuel selector lever was found positioned to the right tip tank. Continuity of the fuel system was established from the main fuel tanks throughout the system to the fuel servo. During a leak test, the left main, right main, and right tip tanks showed no evidence of leakage, and the leakage observed from the left tip tank was consistent with impact damage to the fuel sump.

Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot failed to select a fuel tank that contained fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR25LA131 for the full record.