ANC93LA127

The pilot said that about 10 minutes after takeoff, and while cruising at about 800 feet AGL, the right engine oil pressure began decreasing and the temperature increasing. About 2 minutes later the right engine started running rough and backfiring, so he shut it down. Meanwhile he mistakenly turned into a small bay instead of toward his departure airport. Because of the high terrain and houses on his left he attempted a slow turn to the right. When the airplane got into a low airspeed buffet, and the pilot thought it was about to go inverted, he cut power on the left engine, leveled the wings, and ditched in the shallow water near the shoreline. Investigation found that during the after takeoff gear retraction the right main landing gear retraction chain broke and punctured the right engine's oil tank, which allowed all the oil to drain out. No mechanical problems were found with either of the two engines.

On July 25, 1993, at 1408 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Beech D18S airplane, N2053D, operated by Fresh Alaskan Seafoods Transported, ditched in shallow water adjoining the beach about 2 miles northwest of Kodiak, Alaska. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The business flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Kodiak Municipal Airport at 1330. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a company VFR flight plan was filed.

Shortly after the accident, during a telephone conversation, the pilot stated the following in part: "Approximately 10 minutes after taking off from Kodiak, and while cruising at about 800 feet agl, the right engine oil pressure began decreasing, and the oil temperature began increasing. I did a 180 degree turn and headed back toward Kodiak. A couple minutes later the right engine started running rough and backfiring, so I shut it down. Then I turned into what I thought was the channel to Kodiak, but it was actually Mill Bay. I realized that I might not be able to clear the houses and high terrain on the left so I started a slow right turn. The airplane was not able to maintain altitude and slowly descended to about 50 feet. I realized that I did not have sufficient room to complete the turn in the bay. I started getting low speed buffeting and I thought the airplane was about to go inverted, so I reduced the throttle on the left engine and leveled the wings in preparation for ditching in the shallow water along the beach. A second later the right wing tip hit the water and the airplane cartwheeled."