On July 31, 2004, a Piper PA-28RT-201T (registration N77782) was involved in an aviation accident near Plymouth, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power at a low altitude due to a fuel flow restriction caused by vapor lock. Factors to the accident included the high atmospheric temperature and the road sign that the airplane impacted during the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A single-engine airplane was destroyed by fire after losing engine power on takeoff. The pilot performed a forced landing onto a road, hitting a sign. No anomalies were found during a post-accident engine test.
Event Summary
The airplane was destroyed in a post-impact ground fire following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. The pilot had previously landed and shut down the engine for several minutes before boarding two passengers for a local flight. The pilot reported that the airplane contained 35 gallons of fuel prior to the accident flight.
Pilot Actions
During the initial takeoff roll, the pilot noted that the engine "shuddered" and subsequently aborted the takeoff. After conducting an engine run-up check, the pilot stated that the engine "felt fine." The aircraft then experienced a loss of engine power while on the second takeoff attempt. The pilot maneuvered the airplane toward a nearby road for landing, but the airplane struck a road sign before coming to a stop. Shortly thereafter, a fire on the ground engulfed the aircraft.
Post-Accident Findings
A post-accident operational test of the engine revealed no anomalies. The outside temperature at the time was approximately 28 degrees Celsius. The investigation noted that a condition known as vapor lock can occur when the engine heats the fuel lines, causing the contained fuel to become vapor. This tendency is increased if the fuel in the tank is warm, commonly due to high atmospheric temperatures. Fuel vapor can result in partial or complete interruption of fuel flow to the engine.