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Garland, TX
The plane had been involved in a bankruptcy settlement and had not been flown for about 3 1/2 months. The pilot had been sent to ferry the plane. During a run-up before takeoff, the propellers moved toward a feather position without pilot input. The pilot had a mechanic service the props. A subsequent run-up was normal, so the pilot took off. About two minutes after leveling at 1800 ft, the left prop started feathering again without pilot input and the left engine lost power. A short time later, the right engine began losing power. An emergency landing was made on a closed airport; however, the gear struck rocks and debris that were not visible in an area of grass. An investigation revealed the engine oil had not been changed since 7/20/81. The prop governor screens were found with about 70 to 80% blockage with a carbon build-up. An oil analysis revealed a high aluminum content. The lab report stated that this may be from break-in, recent maintenance, abnormal wear, or over extended oil drain. Last annual dated 4/2/81.
THE PLANE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A BANKRUPCY SETTLEMENT AND HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR ABOUT 3 1/2 MTHS. THE PILOT HAD BEEN SENT TO FERRY THE PLANE. DURING A RUN-UP BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PROPELLERS MOVED TOWARD A FEATHER POSITION WITHOUT PILOT INPUT. THE PILOT HAD A MECHANIC SERVICE THE PROPS. A SUBSEQUENT RUN-UP WAS NORMAL, SO THE PILOT TOOK OFF. ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTER LEVELING AT 1800 FT, THE LEFT PROP STARTED FEATHERING AGAIN WITHOUT PILOT INPUT AND THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON A CLOSED AIRPORT; HOWEVER, THE GEAR STRUCK ROCKS AND DEBRIS THAT WERE NOT VISIBLE IN AN AREA OF GRASS. AN INVESTIGAITON REVEALED THE ENGINE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE 7/20/81. THE PROP GOVERNOR SCREENS WERE FOUND WITH ABOUT 70 TO 80% BLOCKAGE WITH A CARBON BUILD-UP. AN OIL ANALYSIS REVEALED A HIGH ALUMINUM CONTENT. THE LAB REPORT STATEDTHAT THIS MAY BE FROM BREAK-IN, RECENT MAINTENANCE, ABNORMAL WEAR, OR OVER EXTENDED OIL DRAIN. LAST ANNUAL DATED 4/2/81.