On October 13, 2007, a Piper PA-25-260 (registration N9733P) was involved in an aviation accident near Houston, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to properly position the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot lost engine power shortly after takeoff due to fuel starvation caused by a misaligned fuel selector. The resulting forced landing ended with the aircraft nosing over.
What happened
The pilot initiated an intersection takeoff while the fuel selector was positioned between tank detents. Shortly after liftoff, the engine experienced fuel starvation followed by a complete loss of engine power. During the forced landing, the left wing impacted a tree and the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft following the accident. Examination revealed that the fuel selector was not fully engaged in any tank detent at the time of takeoff. This misalignment prevented fuel from flowing to the engine, leading to fuel starvation. No other mechanical failures were identified.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was the pilot's failure to ensure the fuel selector was properly aligned with a fuel tank detent before initiating the takeoff roll. This oversight resulted in an inadequate fuel supply to the engine during a critical phase of flight. The loss of engine power was a direct consequence of this error. No other contributing factors were found.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly position the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power.