20200705009419A

2020-07-05, Approximately 1050L, Piper PA-32-300 took off from tower, MN, 12D. The flight plan was 5500 ft to menomenee, WI klmu, but due to some clouds the PIC continued his climb to 7500 ft. after this 20 minute flight he leveled off and leaned the aircraft out for his standard 14 gallon per hour burn rate.

Shortly thereafter the aircraft started to lose power, then the engine quit. The PIC pressed the nearest button on the garmin and needed to make a 90 degree right turn at 16.6 miles to Eveleth, MN, kevm and made the turn. Then the PIC switched from a main tank to the left tip tank, turned on the fuel assist/electric fuel pump, set the mixture to rich, and made one starter attempt. The engine did not start and the PIC suddenly lost all avionics garmin screens. He continued to fly the airplane VMC at 100 KTS for kevm. The PIC had the airport and runway in sight, but realized he was not going to make it.

He quickly looked for the "softest" alternative, saw the area with sporadic and smaller trees, turned approximately 90 degrees left, reduced airspeed to 70 KTS and told his wife to open the door. He does not recall switching off nav lights.

The aircraft was flown to the deck, the PIC said it felt like it went off a ways, then just had a sudden stop and both of their heads hit the dash, leaving them bleeding. His wife stated there was fire all around, they quickly unlatched their seat belts and departed the aircraft through her door on the right side of the aircraft. They grabbed nothing and departed the black cloud of smoke as quickly as possible never looking back or taking anything with them. The PIC stated post that he was even unaware that the wings had tore off the aircraft. Both wings had been tore off, the left tip tank separated from the left wing and landed on the right side of the aircraft, where the right wing and left tip tank burned spreading all along the right side of the aircraft and ultimately consuming the fuselage between the engine firewall and the tail.

Time was approximately 1115 local. The aircraft had landed in a bog swamp with water in the ankle to knee depths. The PIC and his wife picked up a grass logging trail and followed it north for about 4 hours before it dead ended. Shortly thereafter they started to hear and see a Cessna overhead. They started the 4 hour walk back towards the wreckage. 1838L on scene sar located the two survivors. Both were transported, for dehydration and head injuries. Follow up both were medically released.

Flight aware showed a history of sporadic ADS-B reporting by this aircraft. A clean ELT bracket was discovered in the unburned tail, with no ELT present.

Last year sky beacon ADS-B installed in left wing, on nav lt circuit, always on as FAR as PIC aware. At the same time the mechanic for the last six years also told the PIC it was time to replace the ELT.

The aircraft came out of annual in may 2020. Same mechanic, connell flying service, decorah IA. PIC has had no engine issues to report in the last 6 years, but a month ago on the deck, so a June day, at 1100 RPM, the engine just started to die. PIC assumed cold engine, so ran up the engine, didn't notice an issue after.

Amendment: 2020-12-22 N4079R engine exam conducted. Each cylinder was capabable of producing compression. The left mag burned up in post crash fire, but the right one was capable of producing spark. Visual inspection of the fuel injectors did not show any signs of being plugged. Upon removal of the engine driven fuel pump, it was discovered the shear shaft on the drive gear was compromised. The shaft was sheared 100% and the drive gear was an independent piece. Finger tension was applied to the pump to see if it would turn. The pump was siezed.

Amendment: 2020-12-22 N4079R engine exam conducted. The drive shaft to the fuel pump was sheared. The fuel pump was seized.