Accident Description
Witnesses observed the pilot performing a preflight inspection before engine start. The airplane departed from runway 07 and remained in the traffic pattern. While approximately three-quarters down the runway on the downwind leg, witnesses heard the engine sputter and experience a loss of power. The airplane continued on the downwind leg, with several witnesses reporting that the flight path appeared similar to a normal traffic pattern rather than turning toward the runway. The airplane became low on final approach and disappeared behind trees. It then impacted a tree and the ground, coming to rest upright about a quarter nautical mile from the approach end of runway 07.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector was positioned near the "right" tank position. Impact damage was noted to the selector valve attach structure, but no fuel stains were present in that area. The right fuel tank contained approximately 20 ounces of fuel. The left wing remained attached only by the aileron control cables and was in close proximity to the fuselage; the left fuel tank contained approximately 13 gallons of fuel. The fuel vent and delivery systems showed no obstructions. The fuel line from the right tank was routed to the forward side of the fuel selector valve, while the line from the left tank was routed to the aft side. Only drops of fuel were found in the engine compartment fuel lines. The engine was removed, fitted with a replacement propeller, and operated to 2,250 rpm with no discrepancies noted.
Maintenance History and Fuel System Configuration
The airplane had previously experienced a partial collapse of the nose landing gear and a propeller strike while landing in California. It was sold to a salvage company, which removed the wings, and later sold to the accident pilot. A mechanic who performed repairs and the last annual inspection reported that the aluminum fuel lines in the cockpit aft of the fuel selector valve were damaged to the extent that he could not determine their routing. Based on his interpretation of an illustration in the Piper Parts Catalog and his belief that the fuel selector handle pointed to the forward port when the right tank was selected, he routed the right tank fuel line to the forward side of the selector and the left tank line to the aft side. The first page of the parts catalog's Introduction Section contains a bold note stating, "UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THIS CATALOG BE USED FOR RIGGING AND INSTALLATION PURPOSES." The catalog indicates that the right tank line should go to the aft side and the left tank line to the forward side. The mechanic added fuel, checked for leaks, verified engine operation, and conducted a test flight with the pilot. The pilot flew the airplane three or four times after the inspection; a friend also flew it the day before the accident.
Pilot Actions and Fuel Management
Before departure, the pilot reported that the right fuel tank contained 5 to 6 gallons and the left tank approximately 15 gallons. The flight lasted about 30 minutes, with the fuel selector positioned to the left tank for the entire duration. The pilot did not move the selector during the flight. After landing from a previous flight, he did not visually inspect the tanks but noted that the left fuel gauge indicated approximately 10 gallons; he did not record the right gauge reading. The owner's handbook states that the fuel selector should be on the proper tank for takeoff and that, in the event of an engine power loss, the selector should be moved to the opposite tank.