Accident Overview
On August 20, 2017, about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, registration N46286, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power on approach to Paramount Air Strip (JY04) in Green Creek, New Jersey. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the banner-tow flight, which had departed JY04 about 0945 and was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Sequence
According to the pilot's written statement and company records, he picked up his first banner at 0948 and subsequently dropped and picked up five more banners. About 1340, he dropped the sixth banner, retracted the tow boom, and entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing at JY04. At the point where the airplane entered the downwind leg, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot turned the airplane away from a line of trees in its path and performed a forced landing to a marsh, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Pilot Actions and Statements
In a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, the pilot reported that he switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank and attempted an engine restart during the forced landing, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The pilot stated that he filled the fuel tanks on the day prior to the accident and that the airplane's average fuel consumption rate was 7.2 to 7.4 gallons per hour. He told the inspector that he "didn't understand" how the airplane ran out of fuel.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued October 4, 2016. His records indicated an estimated 615 total hours of flight experience, of which 507 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.
The airplane, a one-place, high-wing design, was manufactured in 1942 and powered by a Lycoming O-290D2, 135-horsepower engine. Originally configured with a 12-gallon fuel capacity, it had been subsequently modified with a 36-gallon fuel system. The most recent annual inspection was completed on August 9, 2016, at a total aircraft time of 11,517 hours.
Weather and Post-Accident Examination
At 1355, the weather recorded at Cape May County Airport (WWD), 3 miles south of JY04, included clear skies, wind from 290° at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 26°C, dew point 18°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of mercury.
The airplane was examined at the scene by an FAA aviation safety inspector. Examination revealed that the firewall and the tubular structure of the fuselage were substantially damaged. The inspector confirmed flight control continuity. When the fuel tanks were drained, the inspector recovered "a little over a gallon out of the right tank, and nothing out of the left."
Probable Cause
Not stated in the source.