Accident Overview
On March 26, 2016, at approximately 1345 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, registration N8154P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Kentland, Indiana. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction both sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated without a flight plan. The local flight had departed from Kentland Municipal Airport (50I).
Flight Sequence
According to the flight instructor, after completing air work, he demonstrated the operation of the single fuel gauge and the momentary selector buttons used to display fuel quantity in each tank. He then demonstrated the gauge with the fuel selector. The instructor could not recall which position he left the fuel selector in. He reduced power and descended from 3,000 feet mean sea level through 1,500 feet, setting up for a 500-foot-per-minute descent toward runway 09 with approximately 14 inches of manifold pressure, the fuel pump on, and carburetor heat engaged.
At an undetermined point, the private pilot began flying the airplane. About half a mile from the approach end of runway 9, the descent rate increased. The instructor called for the private pilot to add power. When the engine did not respond, the instructor took control and turned right to land in a field. He checked the engine instruments and fuel quantities but could not get the engine to respond. The airplane stalled about 10 to 15 feet above ground level and landed hard. The instructor then turned off the cockpit switches, including the fuel selector, and both pilots exited the airplane.
Post-Accident Examination
Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the wreckage and found substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Fuel tank examination revealed that each tank contained an unmeasured amount of fuel, except the right auxiliary tank, which was empty. No anomalies were discovered that would have precluded normal engine operation.
After the accident, the instructor recalled that during the air work segment, the right wing seemed "a bit heavy," but he was not surprised since most of the indicated fuel was in the right main and right auxiliary tanks. A review of the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart from FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 indicated that the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to serious icing while at glide power.