Accident Piper PA-44-180 Seminole N2159Z,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 30050
 
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Date:Friday 25 August 2000
Time:12:15
Type:Silhouette image of generic PA44 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-44-180 Seminole
Owner/operator:M D AERONAUTICAL CORP
Registration: N2159Z
MSN: 44-7995299
Year of manufacture:1979
Total airframe hrs:4997 hours
Engine model:Lycoming O-360-EIA6D
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey -   United States of America
Phase: Unknown
Nature:Training
Departure airport:Caldwell, NJ (CDW)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
While at 3,000 feet with both engines operating at cruise power, the instructor induced an engine failure by moving the left fuel-selector to 'OFF.' The student asked the instructor if he wanted him to 'shut down the engine.' The instructor answered no. The student then verbalized the necessary steps for securing an engine, finishing with 'right engine to crossfeed.' After a couple of minutes, the instructor noticed that the right fuel selector was actually between 'OFF' and 'CROSSFEED.' The instructor returned the left and right fuel selectors to 'ON,' and approximately 30 to 40 seconds later both engines lost power. Several unsuccessful restarts were attempted, and the instructed executed a forced landing to a lake. The airplane touched down and both occupants exited under their own power. The airplane was recovered and both engine were examined and then run. During the examination and engine runs, no preimpact failures or malfunctions were identified. In addition, each fuel selector had three position, 'ON,' 'OFF,' and 'CROSSFEED.' To move a selector from 'ON' to 'CROSSFEED,' the selector had to be moved aft through the 'OFF' position.

Probable Cause: The flight instructor's improper placement of both fuel-selector switches, which resulted in a total loss of engine power on both engines.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: NYC00FA240
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
27-Sep-2008 01:00 ASN archive Added
21-Dec-2016 19:16 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
21-Dec-2016 19:20 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
12-Dec-2017 19:02 ASN Update Bot Updated [Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
17-Nov-2022 16:04 Ron Averes Updated [Aircraft type]
06-Oct-2023 10:28 harro Updated [[Aircraft type]]

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