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A PA28-201 instructor pilot performs a 180 degree turn from upwind leg and an emergency landing after an in-flight engine failure due to fuel starvation on a training flight northeast of fpr, fl.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 514753 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200106 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : fpr.airport |
| State Reference | FL |
| Altitude | agl single value : 450 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : fpr.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | instruction : instructor |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 200 |
| ASRS Report | 514753 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | instruction : trainee |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence other other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : landed in emergency condition |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
After a local training flight and a series of touch-and-goes, engine failed upwind of runway 4 at fpr. After executing 180 degree turn and checklist, engine was restarted on short final to runway 27. Engine windmilled at all times. Student preflted aircraft, told me 1/2 tanks of 72 gallon capacity. I visually confirmed this, both gauges also read 1/2. Never trust gauges, lesson #1. After landing and shutdown, only 2 gallons in each tank. Lesson #2, never eyeball fuel. According to maintenance, vapor entered lines due to low fuel and caused the engine to quit. As it was windmilling, when the residual fuel entered line, power was restored on short final. Had it not been for the perfect conditions allowing a 180 degree turn back, the outcome may have been disastrous (after engine failure).
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A PA28-201 INSTRUCTOR PLT PERFORMS A 180 DEG TURN FROM UPWIND LEG AND AN EMER LNDG AFTER AN INFLT ENG FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION ON A TRAINING FLT NE OF FPR, FL.
Narrative: AFTER A LCL TRAINING FLT AND A SERIES OF TOUCH-AND-GOES, ENG FAILED UPWIND OF RWY 4 AT FPR. AFTER EXECUTING 180 DEG TURN AND CHKLIST, ENG WAS RESTARTED ON SHORT FINAL TO RWY 27. ENG WINDMILLED AT ALL TIMES. STUDENT PREFLTED ACFT, TOLD ME 1/2 TANKS OF 72 GALLON CAPACITY. I VISUALLY CONFIRMED THIS, BOTH GAUGES ALSO READ 1/2. NEVER TRUST GAUGES, LESSON #1. AFTER LNDG AND SHUTDOWN, ONLY 2 GALLONS IN EACH TANK. LESSON #2, NEVER EYEBALL FUEL. ACCORDING TO MAINT, VAPOR ENTERED LINES DUE TO LOW FUEL AND CAUSED THE ENG TO QUIT. AS IT WAS WINDMILLING, WHEN THE RESIDUAL FUEL ENTERED LINE, PWR WAS RESTORED ON SHORT FINAL. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE PERFECT CONDITIONS ALLOWING A 180 DEG TURN BACK, THE OUTCOME MAY HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS (AFTER ENG FAILURE).
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.