19990429017059I

Incident

FAA incident report · Piper PA-31-350 · Carlsbad, CA · April 29, 1999

Date: April 29, 1999 · 14:45 local
Place: Carlsbad, CA
Airport: Mcclellan-Palomar
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: DW7A
Aircraft: N74CE
Reported as: Piper PA31350
Reported engine: Lycoming TIO540J2BD
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0

N74CERegistration cancelled Jun 29, 2023 · Piper PA-31-350S/N 31-7305041 · Built 1973 Airframe modelPiper PA-31-350 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At cruise altitiude, 1500 MSL, 31 manifold pressure at 2300 RPM, the pilot noticed heavy vibration on the left engine for 10 to 15 seconds. The left engine was shut down and the aircraft returned to departing airport without further incident. Preliminary inspection revealed the engine case was damaged, including several broken piston rod end bolts. The air carrier sent the damaged engine to a certified repair station for engine teardown and repairs.

As the FAA filed it

AT CRUISE ALTITIUDE, 1500 MSL, 31 MANIFOLD PRESSURE AT 2300 RPM, THE PILOT NOTICED HEAVY VIBRATION ON THE LEFT ENGINE FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS. THE LEFT ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO DEPARTING AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. PRELIMINARY INSPECTION REVEALED THE ENGINE CASE WAS DAMAGED, INCLUDING SEVERAL BROKEN PISTON ROD END BOLTS. THE AIR CARRIER SENT THE DAMAGED ENGINE TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR STATION FOR ENGINE TEARDOWN AND REPAIRS.