PIPER PA-30 — Amarillo, TX, 2010

PIPER PA-30 — Amarillo, TX

2 fatal High-time pilot

Date	February 17, 2010
Location	Amarillo, TX
Aircraft	PIPER PA-30
Purpose of flight	Business
Conditions	Dawn · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrence	Prior to flight Aircraft inspection event
Pilot age	59
Pilot total time	2,453 hrs · Experienced
Time in type	430 hrs
Fatalities	2

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to detect water contaminated fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the worn and loose fuel caps, which allowed water to enter the fuel tanks.

NTSB findings

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Snow-Not specified
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Attain/maintain not possible
Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Fuel system-Fuel storage-Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Personnel issues-Task performance-Inspection-Preflight inspection-Pilot

What happened

The airplane had just departed when, about one minute after takeoff, it made a turn as if to return to the airport at about 900 feet above ground level. A witness observed the airplane flying low before it impacted a warehouse building. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed water in the fuel recovered from both the left and right engine fuel systems. Both auxiliary fuel tank caps could be removed without releasing the expansion tab and the left main fuel tank cap could be removed without unscrewing the release mechanism, indicative that the caps were loose and worn. The airplane had been exposed to accumulating snow the week prior to the accident. An examination of the airplane's remaining systems revealed no anomalies.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.