CHI94LA351

The pilot reported that the left engine lost power during descent. After several unsuccessful attempts to restore engine power the pilot closed the throttle and feathered the left propeller. He said he lowered the landing gear handle and obtained safe gear indications during the single engine approach, but did not use the emergency hydraulic pump. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed. Investigation revealed both auxiliary fuel tanks were nearly empty and the main fuel tanks were about half full. The two rivets which mount the left fuel selector handle had failed, rendering the selector inoperative. Functional tests of the landing gear, hydraulic, and fuel systems, including the crossfeed, revealed no other evidence of malfunction.

On September 29, 1994, about 2050 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23-160, N5272A, operated by Superstition Air Service of Mesa, Arizona, sustained substantial damage while landing at the DuPage Airport, West Chicago, Illinois. The commercial pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The personal flight originated at 1845 in St Louis, Missouri, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A VFR flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

In his written statement, the pilot reported that he moved the left fuel selector from the auxiliary position to the main position during the descent. A few minutes later, the left engine began surging, then lost power. He unsuccessfully attempted to restore the engine power with the boost pump and crossfeed. The engine surged when the primer was pumped. He shut down the left engine and feathered the left propeller.

He reported that during the single engine approach, he lowered the landing gear handle and verified safe gear indications. During a "smooth and normal" landing, the nose gear collapsed at a speed of about 65 miles per hour. The airplane slid to a stop sustaining substantial damage to the lower nose structure.

During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he did not pump the emergency hydraulic hand pump or activate the emergency extension system.

Examination of the airplane revealed that both main fuel tanks were about half full and the auxiliary tanks were nearly empty. Both electric fuel pumps, the crossfeed valve, and the right fuel selector operated normally. The rivets which mount the left fuel selector handle to the floor panel were pulled through the mount which allowed the handle to move freely without actuating the cable or fuel selector valve.

A landing gear retraction and extension test revealed no evidence of malfunction of the landing gear or hydraulic systems.

The pilot operating handbook for the PA-23-160 specifies in the emergency landing gear extension section "if the engine driven hydraulic pump fails, or the left engine driving the pump, extension of the landing gear or flaps is accomplished by supplying hydraulic pressure with the manual hydraulic pump. With gear or flap control in the desired position, 30-40 strokes of the pump handle will raise or lower the landing gear."