Accident Details
On October 12, 2022, at 1512 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, registration N4171W, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Paola, Kansas. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that the airplane had not been flown since May 2022 due to aviation fuel prices. He departed from Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC), Olathe, Kansas, and flew about 10 miles east, then south, practicing steep turns while en route to Miami County Airport (K81), Paola, Kansas. He planned a touch-and-go landing on runway 30. During the downwind leg, he switched the fuel selector to the left main wing fuel tank. He touched down "pretty abruptly" and the touchdown was probably outside the first third of runway 3. The airplane lifted off about two-thirds down the same runway. He reconfigured the flap setting to one notch and added engine power during takeoff but did not change the flap setting. The airplane felt like it was "winding down," and he did not look at the manifold pressure or engine/propeller speed gauges. He said engine noise never ceased after he thought there was a loss of total engine power, though he was wearing a noise-cancelling aviation headset. He did not remember the engine noise getting quiet, and the engine did not sputter like previous occasions when it ran out of fuel. The airplane was about 100–150 ft above the runway with no visible runway remaining when it lost power. He attempted a landing in a small clearing, climbed to avoid a tree, then lowered pitch to increase airspeed, then pitched up, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage to wings and fuselage.
The pilot stated the aural stall warning was inoperative before the accident flight, but the stall warning light was functional. The stall warning system was to be checked during the next annual inspection since it did not function when he practiced aerodynamic stalls in May 2022.
Postaccident Examination
The airport manager of K81 stated that during recovery, at least 5 gallons of fuel "gushed out" of the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed the right main wing tank was full, the left outboard wing tank had about 1–2 gallons, and the right outboard wing tank was empty. The fuel selector was found in the left main fuel tank position. No fuel contamination was found in sump samples.
For an engine run, the airplane was placed on a trailer and a two-blade propeller was installed due to damage to the original. Engine control continuity from cockpit to fuel servo was confirmed. The right main wing tank was filled with about 10 gallons of fuel. With master switch and boost pump ON, no fuel leaks were present. The boost pump was ON for 20–30 seconds, then the starter was engaged; the engine rotated freely but did not start. The boost pump was turned ON again for 30–45 seconds, and the engine started and ran smoothly. It was shut down by moving the fuel selector to OFF.
The previous airplane owner stated that sometimes when switching fuel tanks, there could be an issue if the fuel selector was not placed directly in the detent.