Blue Bell, PA, USA
N711AV
Piper PA-44-180
The airplane was departing a 3,700-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot stated he applied power to both engines and approximately 300 feet down the runway, he experienced an "aggressive" yaw to the right. He attempted to correct with left rudder, and then retarded the throttles. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a snowbank. A witness reported he observed the airplane as it was departing the right side of the runway and noticed that the right propeller appeared to be revolving at a much slower rate then the left propeller. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions.
On February 26, 2003, about 1105 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-44-180, N711AV, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Wings Field Airport (LOM), Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was departing from runway 6, a 3,700-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot stated he applied power to both engines and airplane accelerated normally. Approximately 300 feet down the runway, he experienced an "aggressive" yaw to the right and attempted to correct with left rudder. The pilot then realized that the airplane was going to go off the runway surface and retarded the throttles. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a snowbank. The pilot added that he did not observe the airplane's engine instrument indications. A certified flight instructor stated he observed the airplane as it was departing the right side of the runway and noticed that the "right propeller appeared to be revolving at a much slower rate then the left propeller." The pilot reported about 1,300 hours of total flight experience, which included about 145 hours in multiengine airplanes, and 58 hours in make and model. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, which included a compression check of both engines cylinders, did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Winds reported at an airport about 7 miles southwest of LOM, at 1055, were from 100 degrees at 9 knots.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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