General Information

Data Source:                          NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
   Report Number:                        CHI94LA090 
   Local Date:                           02/21/1994
   Local Time:                           09:41 CST
   State:                                ND    
   City:                                 GRAND FORKS                        
   Airport Name:                         GRAND FORKS INTL         
   Airport Id:                           GFK   
   Event Type:                           ACCIDENT
   Injury Severity:                      NONE   
   Report Status:                        FINAL      
   Mid Air Collision:                    NO 

Operations Information

Category of Operation:                GENERAL AVIATION       
   Aircraft Type:                        AIRPLANE       
   Aircraft Damage:                      SUBSTANTIAL      
   Phase of Flight:                      560 APPROACH                                          
   Aircraft Make/Model:                  PIPER PA-18-150                 
   Operator Doing Business As:                                         
   Operator Name:                        KING, WILLIAM J.L.            
   Operator Code:                            
   Operator:                                                                       
   Owner Name:                           UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA    

Narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR AND PILOT RATED STUDENT WERE PRACTICING PATTERN WORK.  
   THE INSTRUCTOR ASKED THE STUDENT TO SWITCH THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE 
   RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK.  THE STUDENT MOVED THE SELECTOR BUT DID 
   NOT LOOK AT IT.  HE INADVERTENTLY SELECTED THE OFF POSITION.  THE 
   ENGINE QUIT, A ND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.  THE INSTRUCTOR LANDED THE 
   AIRPLANE ABOUT 50 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.  THE MAIN LANDING GEAR 
   WHEELS DUG INTO THE SNOW DURING LANDING ROLL, AND THE AIRPLANE 
   NOSED-OVER.

Sequence of Events

Occurrence #: 1  353 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER (TOTAL) - NON-MECHANICAL
   Phase of Operation: 561 APPROACH - VFR PATTERN - DOWNWIND

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

   1a.   17001(S) - 1183(M)
         FLUID, FUEL - STARVATION
   1b.   22201(S) - 3109(M) - 4101(P)  Cause
         FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION - IMPROPER - DUAL STUDENT

   Occurrence #: 2  180 FORCED LANDING
   Phase of Operation: 552 DESCENT - EMERGENCY

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor


   Occurrence #: 3  300 NOSE OVER
   Phase of Operation: 572 LANDING - ROLL

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

   1a.   19200(S) - 2424(M)
         TERRAIN CONDITION - SNOW COVERED

Probable Cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL TANK 
   SELECTOR BY THE STUDENT PILOT.

Aircraft Information

Number of Seats:                      2  
   Aircraft Use:                         INSTRUCTIONAL      
   Type of Operation:                    14 CFR 91 
   Domestic/International:                            
   Passenger/Cargo:                                        
   Registration Number:                  66ND  
   Air Carrier Operating Certificates:   
   Aircraft Fire:                        NONE

                  Injuries
          Fatal  Serious  Minor  None
   Crew      0       0       0      2
   Pass      0       0       0      0
   Other     0       0       0      0
   Invlvd    0       0       0      2

   Landing Gear:                         TAILWHEEL-ALL FIXED
   Certificated Maximum Gross Weight:    1750
   Engine Make:                          LYCOMING     
   Engine Model:                         O-320-A2B    
   Number of Engines:                    1 
   Engine Type:                          RECIPROCATING-CARBURETOR    

Environment/Operations Information

Basic Weather Conditions:             VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC)  
   Wind Direction (deg):                 330
   Wind Speed (knots):                   6
   Visibility (sm):                      15
   Visibility RVR (ft):                  0
   Visibility RVV (sm):                  0
   Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 25000
   Visibility Restrictions:              NONE
   Precipitation Type:                   NONE
   Light Condition:                      DAYLIGHT
   Departure Airport Id:                     
   Departure City:                       
   Departure State:                        
   Destination Airport Id:                   
   Destination City:                     
   Destination State:                      
   Flight Plan Filed:                    NONE
   ATC Clearance:                        VFR
   VFR Approach/Landing:                 TRAFFIC PATTERN
   Event Location:                       ON AIRPORT

Pilot-in-Command

Certificates:                         FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
   Ratings:
     Plane:                              SINGLE ENGINE LAND, MULTIENGINE LAND, SINGLE ENGINE SEA
     Non-Plane:                          NONE
     Instrument:                         AIRPLANE
   Had Current BFR:                      YES
   Months Since Last BFR:                8  
   Medical Certificate:                  CLASS 1
   Medical Certificate Validity:         VALID MEDICAL-WITH WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS

              Flight Time (Hours)
   Total       :   9606  Last 24 Hrs :    1
   Make/Model  :    500  Last 30 Days:   25
   Instrument  :    555  Last 90 Days:   65
   Multi-Engine:   2945  Rotorcraft  :    0

The instructor and pilot rated student were practicing pattern work. The instructor asked the student to switch the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank. The student moved the selector but did not look at it. He inadvertently selected the OFF position. The engine quit, and could not be restarted. The instructor landed the airplane about 50 yards short of the runway. The main landing gear wheels dug into the snow during landing roll, and the airplane nosed-over.
Probable Cause
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR BY THE STUDENT PILOT.

Full Narrative:

On February 21, 1994, a Piper PA-18-150, N66ND, operated by the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, sustained substantial damage when airplane had a loss of engine power and the pilot landed short of the runway at the Grand Forks International Airport. Neither the instructor pilot nor the pilot-rated student were injured. The instructional flight originated at the Grand Forks Airport at 0845. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The instructor and student were doing pattern work. The instructor asked the student to switch fuel tanks from right to left. The student reported he "...didn't look and check the fuel selector position." He inadvertently switched the fuel selector to OFF. The instructor landed the airplane about 50 yards short of the runway. The wheels dug into the snow during landing roll, and the airplane nosed-over.

Source: National Transportation Safety Board