On June 30, 2004, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2364A) was involved in an aviation accident near Lawrenceburg, KY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to perform a negative g maneuver, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a G-force demonstration at 2,500 feet, an airplane's engine lost total power. After an unsuccessful restart, the pilot performed a forced landing in a field, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
Incident Overview
After the airplane was leveled at 2,500 feet, the pilot demonstrated the effects of G forces to a passenger by "floating" a notepad. During this demonstration, the engine lost total power. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine and subsequently performed a forced landing to a field. The fuselage and wings of the airplane were substantially damaged in the landing.
Post-Accident Findings
Following the accident, the engine was successfully test run with no abnormalities noted. According to the airplane's Information Manual, "The shape of the wing fuel tanks is such that in certain maneuvers the fuel may move away from the tank outlet. If the outlet is uncovered, the fuel flow will be interrupted and a temporary loss of power may result. Pilots can prevent inadvertent uncovering of the outlet by avoiding maneuvers which could result in uncovering the outlet."