Accident Narrative
On September 9, 2012, at approximately 0945 eastern daylight time, a Pitcairn PA-4 (registration N3261) sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain after departing from a private airstrip in Rawlings, Maryland. The pilot, an airline transport pilot, was seriously injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
A witness who assisted with starting the engine reported that the pilot fueled the airplane and sampled fuel from each sump, finding no contamination. The engine was primed, started, idled for about 10 minutes, and ran smoothly before takeoff.
The pilot stated that after takeoff, at approximately 150 to 200 feet above ground level, the engine began to gradually lose power without any roughness or surging before a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot intended to land in a nearby pasture and initiated a left turn to align with the field. As the airplane descended, another shallow left turn was made to avoid trees and further align with the field. Before the wings could be leveled, the left wing struck the ground. The airplane then turned about 180 degrees and came to rest on its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the airplane was manufactured in 1927 and registered to the pilot in 1998. It was a three-place, metal-and-fabric biplane with conventional landing gear, powered by a single Wright Curtiss OX5 90-horsepower engine. The aircraft was equipped with a 32-gallon aluminum fuel tank. The most recent annual inspection was performed on September 3, 2012, at which time it had accumulated 2,877.7 total flight hours. Major repairs and alterations were completed in April 1990, including disassembly, inspection, cleaning, and sealing of the fuel tank with Randolph Sloshing Sealer.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident engine examination found continuity, no anomalies with exhaust valves or spark plugs, a secure fuel cap, and no debris in the fuel strainer. The carburetor bowl contained a few drops of fuel, and the fuel lines held a trace amount. The fuel tank was void of fuel due to the wreckage position (resting on the right side and partially inverted). Further inspection with a borescope revealed debris inside the tank, large sections of peeling material from the tank walls, and rust areas throughout the interior. The fuel tank outlet lacked a fuel screen.
A Maryland Department of State Police report noted that a local fire department responded to a small fuel spill, and the fuel tank was about half full at the time of the accident.
Service Information
In February 2009, Piper Aircraft Inc. issued Service Bulletin No. 251D regarding Randolph Products Company 802 Sloshing Sealer, stating that over time the cured sealer can separate from tank walls and obstruct fuel lines and filters, potentially causing engine power loss. In April 2009, the FAA released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) for certain Piper models, warning that the sloshing compound can deteriorate and peel, blocking the fuel tank outlet and starving the engine of fuel. An Advisory Circular (AC 43-16A) in October 2010 highlighted a similar incident involving a Bird CK airplane where sloshing compound caused fuel starvation after takeoff.