NTSB: Worn Fuel Selector Valve Caused Fuel Starvation and Engine Power Loss in Piper PA-28-161 Accident at Merritt Island, Florida
Why It MattersThe finding underlines how fuel-system wear can persist through routine periodic inspections, a recurring maintenance-assurance concern for the piston-engine training and time-building segment.
A worn fuel selector valve caused a total loss of engine power in an accident involving a Piper PA-28-161 at Merritt Island, Florida, according to an October 2024 accident report provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The pilot said the flight was intended to build flight time with a safety pilot. During the initial climb after takeoff from Runway 11, at about 200 feet above ground level, the engine began running rough. The pilot leveled the airplane and engaged the starter, and the engine restarted. He decided to return to the airport, but during the turn back the engine lost power.
FAA inspectors examined the airplane after the accident. With the right fuel tank selected, fuel flowed normally to the carburetor; with the left tank selected, no fuel flowed. The fuel filter, carburetor screen and left wing fuel tank screen were free of debris, and a borescope inspection of the drained left wing tank found no contamination. Inspectors found that the fuel selector handle/tank position indicator could be moved past the detent and that the valve was worn. The airplane had completed seven 100-hour inspections before the accident.
The operator did not notify the NTSB of the accident until a month afterward, by which time the airplane had already been examined and released by an FAA inspector and the operator without NTSB involvement. The probable cause was given as a worn fuel selector valve that restricted fuel flow to the engine, resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The report is published as an educational tool to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
