Accident Overview
On December 18, 2010, at 1705 central standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registration N92358, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a snow-filled field near Lake Elmo, Minnesota. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. The flight was operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. It departed Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport (BWG), Bowling Green, Kentucky, about 1340, with Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), Anoka, Minnesota, as the intended destination. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed, but the pilot was receiving VFR flight following from air traffic control.
Flight History
The pilot reported that about one hour after departing BWG, while cruising at 16,500 feet mean sea level (msl), he heard a loud pop and the airplane experienced a rapid decompression. He descended rapidly to 10,500 feet msl, where pressurization stabilized, and continued toward ANE. He attempted to troubleshoot the pressurization problem by consulting the flight manual and adjusting controls. Around 1530, he climbed to 12,500 feet msl to verify that cabin pressurization remained steady; it stayed at 5.2 psi with a cabin altitude set at 1,000 feet. At about 1615, he began descending toward ANE while receiving VFR flight following.
Events Leading to Forced Landing
While near Hudson, Wisconsin, approximately 20 nautical miles east-northeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), at 2,500 feet msl (about 1,500 feet agl), the engine lost power. The pilot moved the mixture, propeller, and throttle controls full forward, turned on the emergency fuel pump, and engaged the starter button, but the engine did not restart. He attempted to contact MSP Approach Control to declare an emergency but received no reply initially. He then initiated a forced landing to a snow-covered field. On a subsequent attempt, he successfully contacted ATC, reporting that the airplane was 200–300 feet agl and executing a forced landing. He switched fuel tanks before ground impact, lowered the landing gear and flaps, and the stall warning horn sounded as the airplane touched down in snow about 2–2.5 feet deep. During the landing roll, the left wing separated from the fuselage. The airplane decelerated quickly and came to rest about 120 feet from the initial touchdown point. The pilot called 911, and emergency personnel arrived 5–10 minutes later.
Post-Accident Inspection
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The right fuel tank was empty. The left wing had separated but remained intact, and the left fuel tank appeared full. The amount of fuel in the left tank was not measured, and the fuel selector was found on the left tank. When questioned about fuel tank switching during the flight, the pilot stated he was certain he had switched tanks during the climb but was not sure afterward. When asked if fuel starvation led to the engine power loss, the pilot replied, "After hearing about the fuel situation in both wings, I have to agree with your assessment of fuel starvation."
The Piper PA-46-350P holds 120 gallons of fuel and has a maximum range of 1,261 nautical miles. The pilot reported that the airplane had 120 gallons of fuel on board at departure from BWG.