ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 133658
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| Date: | Thursday 10 April 1997 |
| Time: | 07:06 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain |
| Owner/operator: | Pilot Services International |
| Registration: | N27659 |
| MSN: | 31-7852090 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1978 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5074 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Sea 30 miles NE of Hilo, Hawaii, HI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Hilo International Airport, Hilo, Hawaii (ITO/PHTO) |
| Hayward Executive Airport, Hayward, Alameda County, California (HWD/KH | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
On April 10, 1997, at 07:06 hours HST (Hawaiian Standard Time), a Piper PA-31-350, N27659, was destroyed when it ditched in the Pacific ocean, 30 miles northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, following loss of power in one engine. The aircraft departed Hilo on a VFR flight plan at 05:46 HST. The ferry flight was destined for Hayward, California, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Both of the airline transport pilots were not injured.
The aircraft was being operated on a special (ferry) flight permit which authorized a gross weight increase to 9,500 pounds. Ferry fuel tanks had been installed, along with long range communication and navigation radios.
The pilot reported that when 85 miles northeast of Hilo, the right engine failed in a slow, gradual loss of power, and he was unable to restart it. He feathered the propeller, declared an emergency, and reversed course. Power from the remaining engine was insufficient to maintain level flight at the overweight condition, and he permitted the aircraft to drift down until he ditched in the ocean 28 miles offshore. He and the other pilot evacuated the aircraft into life rafts, the aircraft sank, and they were rescued by Coast Guard helicopters about 2 hours later.
The location of the ditching was latitude 20 degrees 05.34 minutes north, and 154 degrees 40.04 minutes west.
According to inspectors from the FAA Honolulu Flight Standards District Office, the pilot had departed and returned to Hawaii twice previously. The first time he returned due to an oil leak on the left engine, and the second time because the pilot's openable window was "coming off". A mechanic who repaired the window reported that the left engine appeared to still be leaking oil. Both pilots told the FAA inspector that the oil leak had been repaired.
PROBABLE CAUSE:The loss of engine power in one engine for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the aircraft's diminished single engine performance during the early portion of the overweight ferry flight.
Sources:
1. NTSB Identification: LAX97LA154 at https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20001208X07751&ntsbno=LAX97LA154&akey=1
2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=27659
3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.baaa-acro.com/1997/archives/crash-of-a-piper-pa-31-navajo-chieftain-in-pacific-ocean-2/]
4. http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N27659.html
5. http://www.aviationdb.com/Aviation/Aircraft/2/N27659.shtm
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Jun-2015 08:52 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Country, Narrative] |
| 19-Jun-2015 22:19 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:26 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 13-Oct-2017 17:10 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative] |
| 09-Jun-2023 15:16 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Time, Source, Narrative]] |
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