Montgomery, AL, USA
N601JS
Piper PA-60-600
During the takeoff roll and initial climb both engines were producing normal power. As the airplane climbed through 150 feet, the left engine lost power. The pilot reported that he feathered the left propeller. He further stated that following the securing of the left engine, the right engine began to 'power down.' The pilot reported that he was unable to maintain a climb attitude and was forced to land on the airport in a grassy area. The subsequent examination of the cockpit disclosed that the left engine throttle was in the full forward position, and the right throttle lever was in the mid-range position. Both propeller levers were found full forward. The left engine mixture lever was in the full forward position, and the right mixture lever full aft, or lean, position. The functional check of both engines was conducted. Initially the left engine would not start, but after troubleshooting the fuel system, the left fuel boost pump was determined to have been defective. The 'loss of engine power after liftoff' checklist requires that the pilot identify the inoperative engine and to feather the propeller for the inoperative engine.
On May 29, 1999, at 1724 central daylight time, a Piper PA-60-600, N601JS, collided with the ground during a forced landing at the Montgomery International Airport in Montgomery, Alabama. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual flight weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot reported that he and five passengers were not injured. The airplane received substantial structural damage. The flight departed Montgomery, Alabama, at 1723. The pilot reported that he and his passengers were enroute back to Columbus, Georgia. The pilot also stated that he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane, and he completed a before takeoff run-up for both engines. The pilot recalled that during the takeoff roll, and initial climb both engines were producing normal power. As the airplane climbed through 150 feet, the pilot experienced a loss of power on the left engine. Following the loss of engine power, the pilot recalled that he feathered the left propeller. He further stated that following the securing of the left engine, the right engine began to "power down." The pilot reported that he was unable to maintain a climb attitude and was forced to land on the airport in a grassy area. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane for the forced landing, the right wing struck the ground. The subsequent examination of the cockpit disclosed that the left engine throttle was in the full forward position. The right throttle lever was in the mid-range position. Both propeller levers were found full forward. The left engine mixture lever was also found in the near full forward position, and the right mixture lever was found in the full aft, or lean, position. Both engine boost pumps were in the "on" position. The cockpit throttle, mixture, and propeller control lever positions were confirmed on the respective engine. The functional check of both engines was conducted with each engine still installed on the airframe. Existing airframe and engine components were used during the functional check. The left engine was operated through the mid-power range. Initially the left engine would not start, but after troubleshooting the fuel system, the left fuel boost pump was determined to have been defective. The functional check of the left engine was completed, and it also operated within the mid-power range. A review of the operator's before takeoff checklist disclosed that the fuel boost pump is in the "on" position. The "loss of engine power after liftoff" checklist requires that the pilot identify the inoperative engine and to feather the propeller for the inoperative engine.
The pilot's inadvertent shutdown of the wrong engine that resulted in the total loss of engine power. A factor was the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation when the left fuel boost pump failed.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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