Date:	Wednesday 26 January 1983
Time:	12:39
Type:	Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Owner/operator:	Kenneth M. Sullivan
Registration:	N9003Y
MSN:	31-007
Total airframe hrs:	5312 hours
Engine model:	LYCOMING TSIP-540 A2B
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Opa Locka Executive Airport, Miami Lakes, Florida -   United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Demo/Airshow/Display
Departure airport:	Opa Locka, Florida (OPF/KOPF)
Destination airport:	Opa Locka, Florida (OPF/KOPF)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
THE PILOT & A PROSPECTIVE BUYER/PASSENGER WERE ON A LOCAL DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT. PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR NEARLY 1 YEAR. SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 1/12/82, IT HAD BEEN FLOWN ONLY 66 HOURS. DURING THE PRE-FLIGHT, THE PILOT FOUND THE FUEL TANKS BETWEEN 1/4 FULL & EMPTY.

THE SUMPS WERE DRAINED, THE MAIN TANKS WERE FILLED, THEN THE SUMPS WERE DRAINED AGAIN. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT LEVELLED THE AIRCRAFT AT 1,500 FEET IN A CRUISE CONFIGURATION. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, BACKFIRING & LOSING POWER. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, BUT THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER & THE PROP WAS FEATHERED.

WHILE RETURNING, THE RIGHT ENGINE'S CYLINDER HEAD & OIL TEMPERATURE BEGAN RISING ABOVE THE RED LINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT BEGAN LOSING POWER & A WHEELS-UP, FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT BOTH ENGINES WERE OUT OF TIME, FIRING WAS INTERMITTENT, 1 DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK ON THE LEFT ENGINE WAS BURNED, DUE TO INCORRECT TIMING. ALSO, THE LEFT TURBOCHARGER GATE WAS STUCK OPEN & THE LEFT FUEL FILTER WAS PARTIALLY CLOGGED.

REGISTRATION N9003Y CANCELLED BY THE FAA ON MAY 17, 2013 AS "EXPIRED"

1. La Nación 28 January 1983, page 20A (photo)
2. NTSB Identification: MIA83FA064 at https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001214X42048&key=1
3. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=9003Y
4. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.baaa-acro.com/1983/archives/crash-of-a-piper-pa-31-cheyenne-in-miami/]
5. https://flightaware.com/resources/registration/N9003Y

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
27-Sep-2008 01:00	ASN archive	Added
21-Dec-2016 19:14	ASN Update Bot	Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
21-Dec-2016 19:16	ASN Update Bot	Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
21-Dec-2016 19:20	ASN Update Bot	Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
06-Aug-2017 19:17	TB	Updated [Aircraft type, Other fatalities, Source]
10-Sep-2017 21:42	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
30-Sep-2017 17:23	TB	Updated [Location, Source, Damage]
30-Sep-2017 17:29	TB	Updated [Time, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative]
03-Oct-2017 20:39	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
03-Oct-2017 20:40	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]