ATL87LA226

Factual narrative

THE ENGINE LOST PWR DURING INITIAL CLIMB AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL SHORTLY AFTER THE PLT TURNED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP OFF. A FORCED LDG WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MADE ON A NEARBY INTERSTATE HWY. THE PLT DELAYED THE LDG TO AVOID HITTING AUTOS ON THE HWY AND A HARD LDG RESULTED. THE SUSPECTED CAUSE OF THE PWR LOSS WAS FUEL VAPOR LOCK. THE ENGINE WAS TEST-RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THAT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED WITH 87 OCTANE AUTO GAS. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 90 DEG F. THE ARPT ELEVATION IS 920 FT MSL. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE ARPT WAS CALCULATED TO BE APPROX 3,200 FT. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT STC'D TO OPERATE ON AUTO GAS. PIPER MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETIN #855 DATED 1-14-87 PROHIBITS THE USE OF AUTO FUEL IN PIPER AIRPLANES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12