1 fatal · PIPER PA38 · 2017-02-22 · East Haven, CT, USA
Event
NTSB number
ERA17FA112
Event ID
20170222X12747
Type
Accident
Date
2017-02-22
Location
East Haven, CT, USA
Coordinates
41.253612, -72.885559
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
1
Serious
1
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
2
Aircraft
Make
PIPER
Model
PA38
Registration
N2452C
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The failure of the fuel selector valve in a position that restricted fuel flow to the engine, resulting in a total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation. Also causal was the operator's failure to effectively detect and resolve the wear and progressive binding of the fuel selector valve before it failed due to excessive rotational force being applied. Contributing was the flight instructor's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during an emergency return to the airport, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.