# Accident 20050813022509A: Piper PA31350, Ft Lauderdale, FL, August 13, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 13, 2005, 15:59 local time
- Place: Ft Lauderdale, FL
- Airport: Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood International
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EYLA
- Location: 26.0439° N, 80.0561° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0439&lon=-80.0561&mi=10
- Aircraft: N318JL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N318JL-2017-06-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,500 total, 6,800 in this make and model, 290 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA05LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050813022509A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON AUGUST 13, 2005, PIPER PA-31-350, REGISTRATION NUMBER N318JL WHILE ON A FLIGHT FROM NORTH ELEUTHERA, BAHAMAS TO FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE ON THE LEFT ENGINE AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE RESULTING IN DITCHING THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN 10 MILES EAST OF FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35 GALLONS OF FUEL IN EACH WING TANK. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE, POSSIBLY DUE TO A FAILING TURBOCHARGER. THE PILOT FEATHERED THE LEFT PROPELLER AND PREPARED THE PASSENGERS FOR THE DITCHING. AFTER LANDING IN THE OCEAN, THE PILOT AND ALL OF THE PASSENGERS SAFELY EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE PICKED UP BY A NEARBY FISHING BOAT AND DELIVERED TO THE FORT LAUDERDALE COAST GUARD STATION. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE IS LIMITED BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT SANK.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA05LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA149), Aug 13, 2005: Piper PA-31-350 (N318JL), Fort Lauderdale, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The reported loss of engine power from the left engine, and the failure of the left propeller to feather for undetermined reasons, resulting in the inability to maintain altitude, and subsequent…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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