19980907022749A

Acft crashe on takeoff and was destoryed. (.19)on September 7, 1998, at 1513 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N4072A, sustained substantial damage during a forced ditching in kachemak bay, five miles east of Homer, Alaska, after takeoff from runway 03 at the Homer Airport. The solo private pilot was not injured. The flight was operated under 14 CFR part 91 as a business flight to anchorage, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot transmitted to the Homer FAA flight service station that one engine had failed during takeoff, and that he was ditching. He told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on September 9, that the right engine failed after takeoff about 150 feet above the ground. He said the landing gear was retracted, the flaps were up, and he feathered the right propeller, but he was not able to accelerate the airplane above 90 knots. According to the pilot, the best single engine rate of climb airspeed for the PA-31 is approximately 105 knots. He stated he made a wide right turn over the bay, which was away from steep terrain, to attempt a return to the airport. The airplane did not maintain altitude, and the pilot ditched it into smooth water. The pilot escaped without a personal flotation device and the airplane sank within one minute. The pilot was swimming toward a barge when rescued about 30 minutes later. (.4) the pilot departed from an intersection 2,100 feet from the approach end of the 6,700 feet long runway. Immediately after takeoff the right engine failed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he feathered the right propeller, and began a wide right turn away from terrain in an attempt to return to the airport. He stated the airspeed did not reach 90 knots, the airspeed and altitude slowly decayed, and the airplane ditched into smooth water. After recovery, the cowl flaps were found in the open position. No anomalies were found with the fuel system. The airplane departed with full fuel tanks, at a takeoff weight estimated at 6,606 pounds. The right engine was disassembled and no mechanical anomalies were noted. The best single engine rate of climb airspeed is 106 knots, based on cowl flaps closed, and a five degree bank into the operating engine. (-23) on sept 7, 1998, N4072A, a Piper PA-31-150, departed Homer Airport. Shortly after rotation at 92 knots, and with the landing gear in transit, the right engine failed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, continued straight ahead at an altitude of 150 ft attempted a restart and when this failed, feathered and shut down the right engine. He then started a gradual right turn which would place the aircraft over water, instead of the left which would have placed it over a populated area. The aircraft was clear except for the right cowl flap which was set at 50% open. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude or airspeed and the aircraft crash landed in kachemak bay and sank in 120 ft. of water. The pilot was rescued from the water with no injuries except for being very cold. The aircraft was carrying company freight and was 1000 lbs under gross weight. Pilot said he had a biannual flight review in June that was satisfactory.