20000825006919A

(-23) A/c experienced in-flight fire in right engine nacelle. Fire was caused by high-pressure oil leak at base of engine oil filter mount. Fire damage to surrounding area, including dual magneto adjacent to oil filter. Engine failed or shut down by the pilot and the fire stopped. Propeller failed to go into feather; a/c could not maintain altitude and subsequently ditched in the ocean approx four miles from the Hilo airport. (.4) history of flight: on August 25, 2000, at 1735 hawaiian standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 twin engine airplane, N923BA, operated as big island air flight number bi 57, was substantially damaged during an emergency ditching in the pacific ocean following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot was attempting to land at the Hilo international airport, Hilo, Hawaii, when the ditching occurred. One passenger received fatal injuries, while the commercial pilot and remaining 7 passengers received minor injuries. Big island air, inc., was operating the airplane as a nonscheduled sightseeing tour under 14 CFR part 135, when the accident occurred. The local flight originated from kailua-kona, Hawaii, at 1700, and was en route to the Hilo area with a planned return to kona, without landing at Hilo. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed and activated. The pilot reported that he was at 1,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) near laupahoehoe, Hawaii, when he felt the airplane yaw to the right, and noted that the right engine's manifold pressure had dropped to about 25 inches. He immediately switched from the right main fuel tank to the right auxiliary fuel tank and turned on the fuel boost pump. He then moved the throttles, propellers, and mixture controls full forward, and identified the right engine was not producing thrust. He shutdown the right engine by reducing the throttle to idle, bringing the mixture control into idle cutoff, and then by moving the propeller control into the feather position. He noted, however, that the right propeller continued to rotate intermittently after shutdown. At the same time the pilot noted the power loss, at least two passengers indicated to him that a fire was visible through the louvers on the right engine cowling. The pilot announced that they were going to land at the Hilo international airport (ito), which was 23 miles ahead. As the airplane deviated toward Hilo, the pilot noted that with the airspeed at blue line (vyse) he was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane continued to descend between 100 and 50 feet per minute. He checked to ensure that the cowl flaps were closed on both engines, and noted that the left engine was producing 41.5 inches of manifold pressure with the left propeller in the full forward position. Considering the distance to the airport, the pilot estimated that he would not be able to reach land or the airport. He then instructed the passengers to don their life vests and briefed them to prepare for ditching. He made mayday distress calls to the ito control tower and to the honolulu flight service station. He also set the transponder to squawk 7700. About 250 feet MSL and 5 miles from the airport, the pilot began configuring the airplane for ditching. He slowed the airplane and gradually added full flaps, keeping full power on the left engine. He felt the tail of the airplane touch the water; followed by a jolt that momentarily stunned him. When he fully regained his senses, the water in the cockpit was already chest high. He opened the left pilot door and noticed the right front seat passenger climbed across him and exited first. After exiting, the pilot moved to the rear main cabin door (located on the left side of the cabin) to assist the passengers. The right front seat passenger remained by the left cockpit door to assist any passengers who might be using that exit. A passenger reported that water pressure against the right emergency window exit prevented its use. The airplane began to take on water immediately upon landing. As the nose sank first, the airplane began a gradual roll to the right, disappearing below the water within 60 seconds. The pilot attempted to dive below the water to check for any remaining passengers but reported that the murky water restricted his vision. The pilot signaled for the passengers to remain in a group and within about 15 minutes a Hilo fire department helicopter and rescue personnel were on the scene. One passenger was determined to be missing and an unsuccessful search was initiated. Subsequently, the missing passenger was located in the airplane. The following day the airplane was located by U.S. Coast guard sonar under 80 feet of water. The site was 3.1 miles from ito and on a 123-degree magnetic bearing to the airport. The airplane was recovered on August 27, 2000, and secured in the civil air patrol hangar at ito.