# NTSB CEN11LA097: Piper PA 46-350P, N350MM, Gulf of Mexico, December 4, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 2010, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Gulf of Mexico - Coordinates: 27.633888, -89.133888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6339&lon=-89.1339&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administraton - NTSB case key (mKey): 77953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77953/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77953 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA097 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (turbine/turboprop)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057200/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 2 hours into a cross-country flight over water, the pilot heard a noticeable change in engine noise and observed erratic engine torque readings. Moments later the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. After declaring an emergency, the pilot attempted to diagnose the problem and restart the engine to no avail. The airplane ditched 175 miles from land, in water over 5,000 feet deep. The airplane was not recovered and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On December 4, 2010, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA 46-350P, N350MM, ditched in the Gulf of Mexico following a complete loss of engine power. The commercial pilot and the three passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Sidestick LLC., of Wilmington, Delaware. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight had originated at 1200, from the Cozumel International Airport (MMCZ), Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, and was en route to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (KMSY), New Orleans, Louisiana. The pilot reported that 2 hours into the flight he heard a noticeable change in engine noise and observed erratic engine torque readings. Moments later the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. After declaring an emergency, the pilot attempted to locate the problem by changing fuel tanks, activating the emergency fuel pumps, and checking the ignition, battery, and fuel cut off positions. Between 15,000 and 20,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), the pilot feathered the propeller and attempted 4 different engine restarts to no avail. As they descended, the pilot provided air traffic control (ATC) with position reports and prepared the passengers for the impending water landing. After the successful water landing near an oil rig platform, the pilot and passengers were picked up by oil rig personnel. The airplane ditched 175 miles from KMSY and over 100 miles from land. The water depth in the area was reported to be in excess of 5,000 feet. The wreckage was not recovered; therefore, a reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N350MM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350MM-2014-11-25), registration cancelled 2014-11-25, S/N 4622105, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 46-350P - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4622105 - Airframe hours: 2936 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-35 560 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Side Stick LLC - Registered owner: Side Stick LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 2010 - Departed: MMCZ, Cozumel, Mexico - Destination: KMSY, New Orleans, LA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,593 total, 516 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 7,000 total, 750 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 50 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 5 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20101204053559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101204053559A), Dec 4, 2010: Piper PA 46-350P, Destroyed. The aircraft was at cruise flight from mmcz to kmsy. The pilot noticed irregular engine indicatons followed by an engine failure. The pilot ditched the… ## Other investigations on N350MM (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 NYC91LA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA232), Sep 8, 1991: Piper PA46-350P (N350MM), Dayton, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: A MALFUNCTION OF THE ELEVATOR TRIM INDICATOR AND INCORRECT POSITION OF THE TRIM TAB WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT ABORTING THE TAKEOFF AND A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE GROUND. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77953. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.