The pilot told investigators that the accident occurred during the first flight after an annual inspection, and that it had been about three months since the Piper PA-28-181 had been flown.
He noted that the airplane was fully fueled before the flight. A detailed preflight inspection and extended before-takeoff run-up were normal. The takeoff and initial climb from the airport in Arcola, Texas, were as expected until about 300 feet above ground level when the engine abruptly lost power. An attempt to land on the remaining runway was not successful. The airplane touched down hard and subsequently overran the runway.
The airplane came to rest off the departure end of the runway. The left wing was partially separated from the fuselage at the root. The left side of the fuselage and the engine cowling were damaged. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries.
A post-accident examination revealed that the gascolator strainer bowl was partially separated from the gascolator housing. The inboard hook of the gascolator bail (retaining wire) was engaged in the firewall bracket, but did not continue into the upper portion of the gascolator housing, and the retaining nut at the bottom of the bail was loose with about six threads visible on the threaded shaft. No safety wire was present on the retaining nut or the bail. Additionally, a clear streak about 6 inches long was present on the bottom of the fuselage running aft from the firewall below the gascolator assembly. No other airframe anomalies were observed.
A post-recovery engine examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power.
The airframe manufacturer had issued service letter No. 1141, dated April 27, 2011, recommending recurring inspection of the gascolator assembly every 90 days or 50 hours time in service. The service letter also specified safety wire for the bail (retaining wire) and for the strainer bowl retaining nut. The mechanics acknowledged that safety wire was not reinstalled on the gascolator after the annual inspection.
Probable Cause: Loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the mechanic’s failure to properly secure the fuel system gascolator strainer bowl following an annual inspection.
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This July 2024 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.
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