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PA32 pilot had engine power loss because of fuel starvation caused by ice crystals in contaminated fuel.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 540916 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200203 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : pafa.airport |
| State Reference | AK |
| Altitude | msl single value : 5000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : fai.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial technician : powerplant technician : airframe |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 1800 |
| ASRS Report | 540916 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : departure |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : regained aircraft control other |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Aircraft Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
During initial climb out at approximately 5000 ft MSL and 15 mins from start-up, I experienced symptoms of fuel starvation, even though both fuel tanks had been topped off prior to flight. I immediately switched tanks and turned the electric boost pump on. After a delay of 15-30 seconds, power was restored and the engine ran normally. I contacted approach control, requested clearance and returned to the airport without further difficulty. Examination of the fuel strainers after returning to the ramp revealed an accumulation of ice crystals around the screen. I detected no contamination during my preflight tests. I had flown the aircraft for 3 hours already that day without any indication of problem. The aircraft had been refueled with approximately 50 gals of 100 octane between flts.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA32 PLT HAD ENG PWR LOSS BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY ICE CRYSTALS IN CONTAMINATED FUEL.
Narrative: DURING INITIAL CLBOUT AT APPROX 5000 FT MSL AND 15 MINS FROM START-UP, I EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF FUEL STARVATION, EVEN THOUGH BOTH FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN TOPPED OFF PRIOR TO FLT. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED TANKS AND TURNED THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP ON. AFTER A DELAY OF 15-30 SECONDS, PWR WAS RESTORED AND THE ENG RAN NORMALLY. I CONTACTED APCH CTL, REQUESTED CLRNC AND RETURNED TO THE ARPT WITHOUT FURTHER DIFFICULTY. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL STRAINERS AFTER RETURNING TO THE RAMP REVEALED AN ACCUMULATION OF ICE CRYSTALS AROUND THE SCREEN. I DETECTED NO CONTAMINATION DURING MY PREFLT TESTS. I HAD FLOWN THE ACFT FOR 3 HRS ALREADY THAT DAY WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF PROB. THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED WITH APPROX 50 GALS OF 100 OCTANE BTWN FLTS.
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.