HILO, HI, USA
N7079J
PIPER PA-31
DURING AN OCEANIC FERRY FLIGHT, THE RIGHT ENGINE DEVELOPED MAGNETO PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN ONLY RESIDUAL POWER BEING AVAILABLE. THE PIC INCREASED THE POWER ON THE REMAINING LEFT ENGINE, BUT IT SOON OVERHEATED. THE PIC ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. BOTH CREWMEMBERS WERE SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED.
On October 13, 1993, at 1414 hours Hawaii standard time (HST), a Piper PA-31, N7079J, experienced a loss of power on both engines and ditched into the Pacific Ocean about 600 nautical miles south of Hilo, Hawaii. The pilots were conducting an instrument flight rules ferry flight to Santa Monica, California, with a planned scheduled fuel stop at Hilo, Hawaii. The airplane, owned by Kruger Aviation Inc., Santa Monica, California, and operated by Flight Contract Services, Yelm, Washington, was destroyed when it sunk into the ocean. Both certificated airline transport pilots received minor injuries. The flight originated at Tahiti and landed at Christmas Island on October 12, 1993; the flight departed Christmas Island on October 13, 1993, at 1036 hours. The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that about 3.5 hours (1406 hours) after departing Christmas Island the right engine "started to fluctuate and developed only residual power." The PIC determined the engine problem was caused by the magnetos. The PIC increased the power to the left engine; however, it soon overheated. The PIC elected to ditch the airplane. The second pilot confirmed the PIC's statement in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he submitted. The accident coordinates are: 09 degrees, 36.18 minutes north latitude and 156 degrees, 23.82 minutes west longitude.
the failure of the right engine's magnetos for undetermined reasons and the resulting overtemperature of the remaining left engine.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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