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November 23, 2005 · Piper PA-23-250 · N859DA

Bixby, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 23, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Bixby, OK
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N859DA
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DFW06CA033

After a detailed preflight inspection and a 15-minute run up, the 1,684-hour commercial pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, who had recently purchased the twin-engine airplane, departed on a 385-nautical mile cross-country flight to ferry the airplane to its new home base. About 25 minutes into the flight, while in cruise flight at 2,500 feet, the left engine lost power. The pilot elected not to secure the left engine as he felt that the engine was producing some power; however, he elected to return to the departure airport. En-route back to the airport, the right engine also experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and selected a nearby hay field to execute a forced landing. The pilot was able to clear some powerlines short of his intended forced landing area, and made a normal landing on the hay field. During the landing roll on the hay field, the airplane impacted a 2-foot berm/terrace in the field, collapsing the nose landing gear assembly. Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks; however, water and corrosion were found in both left and right side gascolators.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power due to water contamination and corrosion in both gascolators due to improper maintenance. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Full Narrative

After a detailed preflight inspection and a 15-minute run up, the 1,684-hour commercial pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, who had recently purchased the twin-engine airplane, departed on a 385-nautical mile cross-country flight to ferry the airplane to its new home base. About 25 minutes into the flight, while in cruise flight at 2,500 feet, the left engine lost power. The pilot elected not to secure the left engine as he felt that the engine was producing some power; however, he elected to return to the departure airport. En-route to the airport, the right engine also experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and selected a nearby hay field to execute a forced landing. The pilot was able to clear some powerlines short of his intended forced landing area, and made a normal landing on the hay field. During the landing roll on the hay field, the airplane impacted a 2-foot berm/terrace in the field, collapsing the nose landing gear assembly. Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks; however, water and corrosion were found in both left and right side gascolators.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:00 CST
Nearest AirportRichard Lloyd Jones Jr (12nm)
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN859DA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO540-C4B5 · Reciprocating · 250 | Lycoming · IO540-C4B5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 37 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 10 kt, gusting 16 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point30 C
Altimeter29.79 inHg
Observation Time13:22
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data