Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flagstaff, Arizona 86015
Tuesady, May 15, 1990 13:50 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER SWITCHING FUEL TANKS FROM THE AUX TO THE MAIN POSITION, THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SAID THE LEFT SELECTOR LEVER WAS 'VERY STIFF AND HARD TO MOVE.' HE SAID THAT HE TRIED TO RECYCLE THE SELECTOR LEVER BUT THAT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. THE POWER AVAILABLE FROM THE GOOD ENGINE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT REACH THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT SELECTED A SUITABLE LANDING AREA ALONG A DIRT ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE LANDING FLARE WHEN THE PILOT SAID THE LEFT ENGINE SUDDENLY PRODUCED A BURST OF POWER. THE SUDDEN POWER SURGE INDUCED A SEVERE YAW AND ROLL WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT WING TO CONTACT THE GROUND. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE CABLE FOR THE LEFT SELECTOR VALVE WAS BINDING. THE VALVE WAS FOUND IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE MAIN AND AUX POSITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND TO FEATHER THE PROPELLER. A FACTOR WAS ERRATIC POWER FROM THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO THE JAMMING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City FLAGSTAFF
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86015
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 28
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1757
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 15 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1620
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43489
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4232P
NTSB Number LAX90LA175
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA23-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA23-160
Aircraft Serial Number 23-1729
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SAN MARTIN FLYING MISSION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 439 S 3RD STREET
Aircraft Owner City SANTA ROSA
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 88435
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT J. KIRSCH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 439 S. 3RD STREET
Operator City SANTA ROSA
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 88435
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PHX
Departure City PHOENIX
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PHX
Destination City PHOENIX
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --