Plane Crash Reports 2003

2003 Plane Crash Report Result

Title: IPER PA-34-200, N56484, MADE A FORCED LANDING IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE

Report Date: 01/24

Plane Crash Problem: On January 11, 2003, at 1023 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-34-200, N56484, made a forced landing in Westlake Village, California, following a loss of engine power. The Aero Club was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot undergoing instruction sustained serious injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The local instructional flight departed Van Nuys (VNY), California, about 0945. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The CFI told law enforcement officers who responded to the scene that the right engine "went out" and he tried to land in a safe place. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator obtained fuelling records, which indicated that the airplane had been fueled with 51.9 gallons of 100 LL aviation fuel at VNY at 0935 on the morning of the accident. The Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the FAA accident coordinator, and investigators from New Piper and Textron Lycoming examined the wreckage at Aircraft Recovery Service, Littlerock, California, on January 15, 2003. The left engine had completely separated from the airplane during the collision sequence. The right engine separated except for wires and cables, which retrievers cut to move the engine. RIGHT ENGINE Investigators slung the right engine from a hoist, and removed the top spark plugs. None of the spark plugs exhibited mechanical deformation. The spark plug electrodes for cylinders number 1 and 3 were gray in color, which corresponded to normal operation according to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug AV-27 Chart. The spark plugs for cylinders number 2 and 4 were oily. The engine lay on its left side following recovery. A borescope inspection revealed no mechanical deformation on the valves, cylinder walls, or internal cylinder head. The engine was manually rotated using a tool in an accessory drive. It rotated freely and the valves moved approximately the same amount of lift in firing order. Thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders in firing order. The vacuum pump drive gear remained unbroken, and the vacuum pump turned freely. The fuel pump plunger moved up and down, and the gears in the accessory case turned freely. The magnetos were manually rotated. The left magneto produced spark at all posts. The right magneto sustained mechanical damage and could not be tested. LEFT ENGINE Investigators slung the left engine from a hoist, and removed the top spark plugs. None of the spark plugs exhibited mechanical deformation. All of the spark plug electrodes were gray in color, which corresponded to normal operation according to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug AV-27 Chart. A borescope inspection revealed no mechanical deformation on the valves, cylinder walls, or internal cylinder head. The left engine sustained mechanical damage, and investigators could only manually rotate it approximately 30 degrees before it would bind. Both magnetos were manually rotated and produced spark at all posts.

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