Accident Piper PA-23-250 Aztec N13845, Saturday 1 May 1982

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Date:	Saturday 1 May 1982
Time:	12:15 LT
Type:	Piper PA-23-250 Aztec
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N13845
MSN:	27-4486
Total airframe hrs:	3270 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming TIO-540
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Erie, CO - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Executive
Departure airport:	Erie, CO (48V)
Destination airport:	Garden City, KS (48V)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB AND WAS LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS HARD TO MOVE AND DURING TESTS MOVING IT CAUSED THE ENGINES TO QUIT. PIPER AD 80-18-10 WARNS THAT SCOTT MANUFACTURED SELECTOR VALVES "COULD CAUSE POWER LOSS DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE VALVES". DISASSEMBLY OF THE VALVE ON THIS AIRCRAFT REVEALED SCRATCH MARKS ON THE SLIDING PORTION INDICATIVE OF BINDING.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: