About 20 minutes after takeoff, the Piper PA-28’s engine experienced a total loss of power.
During the off-airport forced landing near Rowesville, S.C., the right aileron was substantially damaged.
A post-accident examination revealed that the fuel line between the fuel transducer and the carburetor had failed.
The fuel line was installed as part of the J.P. Instruments EDM-700 engine monitoring system per the supplemental type certificate SA2586NM on May 01, 2002.
Probable cause: The fuel line failure between the fuel transducer and the carburetor, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent forced off-airport landing.
NTSB Identification: GAA16CA302
This June 2016 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
The PA28 series top cowling has an oil door, otherwise a usual preflight inspection never looks at the engine. If this airplane was getting 100 hour inspections the failure might have been detected and avoided.
Likely something was not properly secured and the fuel line was vibrating or something was rubbing.
Piper saved $20 by not having a cowl that could be opened like a Bonaza.
It might be found during the annual,. But the 8-10 inches of firesleeve over the sender would have to be un-clamped and slid aside, besides removing the 2 adel clamp strain reliefs.
From the NTSB docket, one of the fuel fittings may have been improperly make and caused the hose to split and leak/ fail..
see…
https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/search/hitlist.cfm?docketID=58997&CFID=2003711&CFTOKEN=a3f99f0a5d052461-32C2CEA2-FCA6-50EC-2F3BCF40F849FF81
“Fuel line failure” is a rather vague description. The fuel line was either pinched or blocked or disconnected. If I had that part in my airplane, I’d want to know the specifics. What’s to be learned by this account?