What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2020-02-12 involved a PA-28-140, registration HK5178, at Chía, CO.

Engine power loss leads to emergency landing in Guaymaral (HK5178)

On February 12, 2020, a PA-28-140 (registration HK5178) was involved in an aviation accident near Chía, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine lost power because the fuel selector valve was inadvertently placed in an intermediate position while switching from the right to the left tank, interrupting the fuel flow. This summary draws on records from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Group of the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (GRIAA).

Sourcesthe Aircraft Accident Investigation Group of the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (GRIAA)Primary reportUpdated 1785102594Data API Editorial standards

A Piper PA28-140 experienced an engine failure during a training flight, forcing an emergency landing in an unprepared field near Bogotá.

What happened

On February 12, 2020, a Piper PA28-140, registration HK517SB, was conducting a flight training session consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers at the Guaymaral Aerodrome in Bogotá, Colombia. The flight crew, consisting of an instructor and a student pilot, had successfully completed five maneuvers without incident.

During the initial climb following the fifth takeoff, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power at approximately 200 feet above the ground. Due to the low altitude, the instructor took control of the aircraft and identified an appropriate unprepared field to the right of the flight path. The crew performed a controlled emergency landing on the uneven terrain. During the landing roll, the aircraft's wings struck three wooden fence posts, causing damage to the leading edges of both wings. The two occupants evacuated the aircraft on their own and were uninjured.

The investigation

The GRIAA investigation focused on determining the cause of the engine power loss. Investigators examined the engine, fuel system, and fuel quality. Post-incident testing showed that the Lycoming engine, fuel pump, and magnetos were all functioning correctly, and the fuel itself was not contaminated.

Analysis of the fuel selector valve revealed that during the transition from the right tank to the left tank prior to the final maneuvers, the valve had been inadvertently left in an intermediate position. This position momentarily blocked the flow of fuel to the engine, leading to the power loss.

Findings

The primary cause of the engine failure was a lack of fuel supply caused by the fuel selector valve being left in an intermediate position during a tank change.
The aircraft was subject to a previous FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) regarding potential fuel selector valve issues in certain Piper PA28 models, but the operator had not implemented specific preventive actions for this aircraft.
The crew was properly certified, and the aircraft was in an airworthy condition prior to the incident.

Probable cause

The engine lost power because the fuel selector valve was inadvertently placed in an intermediate position while switching from the right to the left tank, interrupting the fuel flow.

Fuel exhaustion & starvation

2020-02-12: PA-28-140 (HK5178) — Chía, CO