ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 78944
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| Date: | Wednesday 27 October 2010 |
| Time: | 17:40 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N350RL |
| MSN: | 31-8252049 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4736 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TI0-540 SER |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Atlantic Ocean, about 2.6 nautical miles east of Aguadilla -
 Puerto Rico
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Punta Cana, (MDPC) |
| San Juan, PR (TJIG) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot stated he experienced a high temperature in the right engine and a partial loss of engine rpm while at 9,000 feet mean sea level in cruise flight. He requested and received clearance from air traffic control to descend and divert to another airport. He leveled the airplane at 2,500 feet and both engines were operating; however, the right engine experienced a loss of rpm which made it difficult to maintain altitude. The pilot reduced power in both engines, turned the fuel boost pump on, opened the cowl flaps and the engine continued to run with a low rpm. The pilot elected to ditch the airplane in the ocean, instead of landing as soon as practical at the nearest suitable airport, as instructed in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). Additionally, he shut down the right engine before performing the troubleshooting items listed in the POH. He attributed his decision to ditch the airplane to poor single-engine performance and windy conditions. The wind at the destination airport was from 060 degrees at 6 knots and runway 8 was in use at the time of the accident. The airplane was not recovered.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper decision to ditch the airplane after a reported partial loss of engine power and overheat on one engine for undetermined reasons.
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=350RL
3. https://www.baaa-acro.com/sites/default/files/import/uploads/2013/11/N350RL.pdf
4. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N350RL
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 30-Oct-2010 03:04 | bizjets101 | Added |
| 21-Apr-2015 23:27 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 20-Oct-2017 19:05 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 20-Oct-2017 19:07 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source] |
| 26-Nov-2017 18:36 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 07-Apr-2020 16:25 | Anon. | Updated [Source] |
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