BRYCE CANYON, UT, USA
N7148Y
PIPER PA-30
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT INITIATED A LEFT 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT; HOWEVER, HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO REACH THE RUNWAY, SO HE OPTED TO LAND ON ROUGH TERRAIN. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS RETRIEVED, THE ENGINE WAS PREPARED FOR A TEST RUN. IT STARTED AND WAS RUN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT VARYING POWER SETTINGS WITH NO EVIDENCE FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 8950 FEET.
On September 5, 1993, at 0730 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N7148Y, collided with the terrain one mile north of the Bryce Canyon Airport, Bryce Canyon, Utah, while maneuvering to return for an emergency landing at the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured. In a written statement, the pilot reported that indications were normal for the start, taxi, run-up, and takeoff. After the airplane climbed to an altitude of approximately 300 feet above ground level, the right engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot made a left, 180 degree turn back toward the airport, however, the airplane was unable to reach the runway, and the pilot landed the airplane on rough desert terrain. After the airplane was retrieved, the right engine was placed on a test stand and prepared for a test run. The engine started and ran at varying power settings for approximately ten minutes. No evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE FORCED LANDING WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND ROUGH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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