Pilot Also Reported That Due To A Fuel Leak, The Auxiliary Fuel Tanks Were Not Used

Location: Palm Bay, FL Accident Number: ERA25LA217
Date & Time: June 4, 2025, 13:41 Local Registration: N2109P
Aircraft: Piper PA-23 Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On June 4, 2025, at 13:41 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23, N2109P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Palm Bay, Florida. The commercial pilot was uninjured, and the sole passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, they had departed in the morning from the Front Royal-Warren County Airport (FRR), Front Royal, Virginia, and were heading to Boca Raton, Florida. The pilot reported that prior to departing FRR, they had filled both main fuel tanks for a total of 72 gallons of fuel. The pilot also reported that due to a fuel leak, the auxiliary fuel tanks were not used. During the flight, the pilot made a fuel stop at the Orangeburg Municipal Airport (OGB), Orangeburg, South Carolina, where they took on 60.3 gallons of fuel to top off the main fuel tanks. After departing OGB, the flight continued south. When the flight approached Savannah, Georgia, the pilot reported encountering a patch of weather and diverted to the west to go around it. After passing the weather, the pilot began to follow the coastline, and as the airplane approached the Daytona Beach area, the pilot diverted to the east to avoid another patch of weather. 

Shortly afterward, the pilot began to make an approach to their next fuel stop at the Valkaria Airport (X59), Valkaria, Florida. While on approach to X59, the pilot reported entering a “massive rain shower,” and the pilot lost sight of the runway. The pilot aborted the approach and initiated a climb toward the east to exit the weather. After reaching about 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot reported that the left engine began to sputter and lost power. The pilot applied carburetor heat and attempted to restart the left engine; however, engine power did not return. The pilot then reported that the right engine began to sputter, and the pilot elected to perform a forced ditching into the Indian River near Palm Bay, Florida. During the ditching, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane and swam to shore.

The wreckage was recovered the same day from the river and brought to shore. The following day, the wreckage was examined. Both fuel selectors were found in the “MAIN” fuel tank position. The left main and auxiliary fuel tank caps were found to be secure, and there were no signs of a fuel leak around the fuel tanks. The left main fuel tank was drained at the left fuel strainer bowl, where approximately 7 gallons of water were drained from the fuel tank. There were no signs of fuel in the left main fuel tank. The left auxiliary fuel tank was drained at the strainer, and the tank contained approximately 4 gallons of fuel that had the odor and color consistent with 100 low lead (LL) aviation gasoline; there was no water found in the left auxiliary fuel tank. The left fuel strainer bowl was removed and visually inspected; the strainer bowl cap was found to be severely corroded. There was no fuel screen installed in the left fuel strainer, and the bowl contained several large pieces of corroded debris.

The right main fuel tank cap was found to be secured to the fuel tank filler and sealed properly. The right auxiliary fuel tank cap was found installed in the right auxiliary tank filler; however, the right auxiliary tank filler neck was missing the metal ring insert and would not seal properly. A lighted borescope was inserted into the right auxiliary fuel tank, and the filler port insert was found near the right auxiliary tank pickup screen. The right main fuel tank was drained at the fuel strainer, where approximately 1 gallon of water and 4 gallons of fuel that had the odor and color consistent with 100LL aviation gasoline were drained from the fuel tank. The right auxiliary fuel tank was found to be completely devoid of fluid.

The wreckage was retained for further examination

FMI: www.ntsb.gov