NEW BERN, NC, USA
N4359P
PIPER PA-23-160
THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. A FORCED LANDING WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MADE IN A FIELD; THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING ROLLOUT. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT REPORTED THAT BOTH ENGINES HAD MADE A 'POPPING NOISE' WHEN THEY LOST POWER. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. DURING A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE TEST-RUN ATTEMPT, BOTH ENGINES STARTED NORMALLY AND DEVELOPED POWER. THE RIGHT-ENGINE RUN WAS LIMITED TO 55% POWER DUE TO AIRPLANE DAMAGE. THE LEFT-ENGINE WAS RUN UP TO FULL POWER WITH NO PROBLEMS. DURING THE LEFT-ENGINE RUN-UP, FUEL TO THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF; AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE AND LOST POWER.
THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO ENSURE THAT THE ENGINE FUEL SELECTOR VALVES WERE PROPERLY POSITIONED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, WHICH LED TO FUEL STARVATION AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
