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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 19, 1993 · Piper PA-34-220 · N1232H

Pacific Ocean, PO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 19, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Pacific Ocean, PO
Aircraft
Piper PA-34-220
Tail Number
N1232H
Operator
Flight Contract Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93LA329

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A FERRY FLIGHT ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN FROM HONOLULU, HI, TO OAKLAND, CA. THE RIGHT ENGINE SUSTAINED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE. ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS, LATER, THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE OIL AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, THE OIL PRESSURE AND POWER BEGAN TO DECREASE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CRUISING ALTITUDE AND ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN NEXT TO A RESCUE VESSEL.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE TO BOTH ENGINES FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Full Narrative

On August 18, 1993, at 2152 hours Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Piper PA-34-220, N1232H, ditched into the Pacific Ocean about 480 miles southeast of San Francisco, California. The ditching was precipitated by a loss of power on the right engine. The pilot was conducting an instrument flight rules ferry flight to Oakland, California. The airplane, operated by Flight Contract Services, Inc., Yelm, Washington, was destroyed after it sunk. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In a statement to the Federal Aviation Administration, Honolulu Flight Standards District Office, the pilot reported that he departed Honolulu at 0808 hours PDT for a planned 14-hour flight to Oakland, California, at 8,000 feet mean sea level (msl). At 1830 hours, the right engine oil pressure dropped, together with a high oil and cylinder head temperature gauge reading. At 1906 hours, the pilot secured the engine and feathered the propeller and the left engine power was increased to 75%. Unable to maintain the cruising altitude, the pilot descended the airplane to 1,250 feet msl and the left engine instruments stabilized and appeared normal. At 2015 hours, oil stains began to appear on the right side of the engine cowl and then on the left flap. Shortly thereafter, the left engine oil pressure started falling. This drop in oil pressure was followed by a rise in the oil and cylinder temperature gauges. At 2045 hours, the power in the left engine diminished whereas the current altitude could not be maintained and a slow descent rate of 20 feet per minute initiated. The pilot reversed course toward the rescue ship. At 2100 hours, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue airplane intercepted the flight. At 2130 hours, the left engine oil pressure dropped to the "low side of the red line" and the engine began to run rough. The airplane's altitude was 650 feet msl. Upon reaching the rescue ship, the pilot flew around it one and a half times prior to ditching. At 100 feet msl, the pilot secured the left engine and feathered the propeller. After ditching, the pilot exited the airplane and inflated the life raft. The accident coordinates are: 33 degrees, 55 minutes north latitude and 134 degrees, 39 minutes west longitude.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time04:52 UTC
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-34-220
Tail NumberN1232H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFlight Contract Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-360 · Reciprocating | Continental · TSIO-360 · Reciprocating
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind40° @ 15 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data