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NTSB Report
July 29, 1987 · Piper PA-23-160 · N22GM
St Petersburg, FL
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 29, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
St Petersburg, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-160
Tail Number
N22GM
Operator
David P Payne
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA87LA216
AFTER CLIMBING ABV 3000' DRG AN INSTRNL FLT, THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) HAD THE STUDENT LOWER THE GEAR & FLAPS TO A TAKEOFF CONFIGURATION & SLOW THE ACFT BELOW VMC (72 KTS). THE CFI THEN SHUT OFF FUEL TO THE LEFT ENG. THE STUDENT FOLLOWED THE CORRECT PROCEDURES TO FEATHER THE ENG & ACCELLERATED TO VYSE (95 KTS), BUT AT VYSE, THE ACFT WOULDN'T MAINT ALT. THE CFITOLD THE STUDENT TO TURN BACK TWD THE ARPT & RESTART THE ENG. DRG THE 1ST ATMT, THE PROP TURNED A FEW TIMES, BUT THE ENGDIDN'T START. RPRTDLY, THE STARTER WOULDN'T ENGAGE DRG SUCCESSIVE ATMTS & THE ACFT CONTD DSCNDG. THE CFI TOOK CTL OF THEACFT & 'RECHECKED GEAR AND FLAPS RETRACTED USING ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC PUMP' WHILE RESTARTS WERE ATMTD. THE PLTS COULDN'T REACH THE ARPT, SO THEY ELECTED TO LND THE ACFT IN A SHALLOW BAY. WITNESSES NOTED THAT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS EXTENDED BFR THE ACFT WAS LNDD. WHEN THE ACFT WAS PULLED FROM THE WATER, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS IN THE DOWN PSN. HOWEVER, AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO REASON FOR THE LNDG GEAR SYS OR STARTER TO MALFUNCTION.
Full Narrative
AFTER CLIMBING ABV 3000' DRG AN INSTRNL FLT, THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) HAD THE STUDENT LOWER THE GEAR & FLAPS TO A TAKEOFF CONFIGURATION & SLOW THE ACFT BELOW VMC (72 KTS). THE CFI THEN SHUT OFF FUEL TO THE LEFT ENG. THE STUDENT FOLLOWED THE CORRECT PROCEDURES TO FEATHER THE ENG & ACCELLERATED TO VYSE (95 KTS), BUT AT VYSE, THE ACFT WOULDN'T MAINT ALT. THE CFITOLD THE STUDENT TO TURN BACK TWD THE ARPT & RESTART THE ENG. DRG THE 1ST ATMT, THE PROP TURNED A FEW TIMES, BUT THE ENGDIDN'T START. RPRTDLY, THE STARTER WOULDN'T ENGAGE DRG SUCCESSIVE ATMTS & THE ACFT CONTD DSCNDG. THE CFI TOOK CTL OF THEACFT & 'RECHECKED GEAR AND FLAPS RETRACTED USING ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC PUMP' WHILE RESTARTS WERE ATMTD. THE PLTS COULDN'T REACH THE ARPT, SO THEY ELECTED TO LND THE ACFT IN A SHALLOW BAY. WITNESSES NOTED THAT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS EXTENDED BFR THE ACFT WAS LNDD. WHEN THE ACFT WAS PULLED FROM THE WATER, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS IN THE DOWN PSN. HOWEVER, AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO REASON FOR THE LNDG GEAR SYS OR STARTER TO MALFUNCTION.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:15 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-23-160
Tail NumberN22GM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDavid P Payne
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B3B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats1
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 9 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:46
Weather SourceWFAC