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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

February 28, 2019 · Piper PA32 260 · N1563X

West Palm Beach, AO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 28, 2019
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
West Palm Beach, AO
Aircraft
Piper PA32 260 (1975)
Tail Number
N1563X
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA19TA111

The pilot departed on the personal flight after topping off the airplane's fuel tanks. He reported that, about 15 minutes after leveling off at 3,500 ft mean sea level, he initiated a climb to 7,500 ft, and the engine immediately started to "sputter"; the airplane was about 20 miles off the coast of Florida over the Atlantic Ocean. He turned on the fuel boost pump, switched fuel tanks, and applied carburetor heat, to no avail. The engine lost total power shortly thereafter. The pilot subsequently ditched the airplane into the ocean, egressed, and was rescued. The airplane was not recovered, which precluded a postaccident examination.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in a ditched landing in the ocean.

Full Narrative

On February 28, 2019, at 1352 eastern standard time, a privately owned and operated Piper PA32-260, N1563X, was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean about 25 nautical miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was not recovered and presumed substantially damaged. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed Treasure Coast International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida, around 1330 and was destined for Great Harbour Cay Airport (MYBG), Bullocks Harbour, Bahamas.According to the pilot, he topped off all fuel tanks in FPR, and was flying with visual flight rules flight following to the Bahamas. About 15 minutes after leveling off at 3,500 ft mean sea level, the engine started to "sputter" immediately after the pilot initiated a climb to 7,500 ft. He turned on the fuel boost pump, observed that the fuel pressure was adequate, but noted no improvement in engine performance. He then switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat but was unable to diagnose the problem, and the engine lost all power shortly thereafter. He turned into the wind, extended full flaps to reduce the airplane's ground speed, and advised air traffic control that he would be ditching. After landing in the water, the pilot egressed without incident onto the airplane's wing and deployed a life raft; the airplane subsequently sank and was not recovered. The pilot activated a personal emergency position-indicating radio beacon and was rescued. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and multi-engine land instrument airplane. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed 6,918.9 total hours of flight experience of which 810 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The pilot's last flight review was logged February 8, 2018. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1975 and was powered by a 260-hp Lycoming O-540-E485 reciprocating engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed March 19, 2018, at a recorded tachometer reading of 898.2 hours and an airframe total time of 6,461.2 hours. The engine had accumulated 1,807.5 hours since major overhaul. The pilot reported 84 gallons of fuel onboard at the time of takeoff. At 1353, the weather reported at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), about 25 miles west of the accident site, included winds from 080° at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3,600 ft, temperature 24° C, dew point 17° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury. Review of a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart for the given temperature and dew point revealed that the conditions were conducive to moderate icing at cruise power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:52 UTC
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA32 260
Tail NumberN1563X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 E485 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 67 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind80° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time18:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data