# NTSB DFW06CA033: Piper PA-23-250, N859DA, Bixby, OK, November 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 23, 2005, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bixby, OK - Coordinates: 36.043609, -95.985275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0436&lon=-95.9853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Oklahoma City, OK - NTSB case key (mKey): 62884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62884/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA033 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to water contamination and corrosion in both gascolators due to improper maintenance. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Analysis After a detailed preflight inspection and a 15-minute run up, the 1,684-hour commercial pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, who had recently purchased the twin-engine airplane, departed on a 385-nautical mile cross-country flight to ferry the airplane to it's new home base. About 25 minutes into the flight, while in cruise flight at 2,500 feet, the left engine lost power. The pilot elected not to secure the left engine as he felt that the engine was producing some power; however, he elected to return to the departure airport. En-route back to the airport, the right engine also experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot was unable maintain altitude and selected a nearby hay field to execute a forced landing. The pilot was able to clear some powerlines short of his intended forced landing area, and made a normal landing on the hay field. During the landing roll on the hay field, the airplane impacted a 2-foot berm/terrace in the field, collapsing the nose landing gear assembly. Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks; however, water and corrosion were found in both left and right side gascolators. ## Factual narrative After a detailed preflight inspection and a 15-minute run up, the 1,684-hour commercial pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, who had recently purchased the twin-engine airplane, departed on a 385-nautical mile cross-country flight to ferry the airplane to its new home base. About 25 minutes into the flight, while in cruise flight at 2,500 feet, the left engine lost power. The pilot elected not to secure the left engine as he felt that the engine was producing some power; however, he elected to return to the departure airport. En-route to the airport, the right engine also experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and selected a nearby hay field to execute a forced landing. The pilot was able to clear some powerlines short of his intended forced landing area, and made a normal landing on the hay field. During the landing roll on the hay field, the airplane impacted a 2-foot berm/terrace in the field, collapsing the nose landing gear assembly. Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks; however, water and corrosion were found in both left and right side gascolators. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel system,gascolator - corroded (cause) - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fuel system,gascolator - contamination,water (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N859DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N859DA-2007-05-14), registration cancelled 2007-05-14, S/N 27-7305198, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-7305198 - Airframe hours: 9035.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005 - Departed: RVS, TULSA, OK - Destination: 1R7, BROOKHAVEN, MS - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RVS, Richard Lloyd Jones Jr ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,684 total, 100 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 37; injuries: none; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2004; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: RVS, 12 nm away ## 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 20051123028819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051123028819A), Nov 23, 2005: Piper PA23250, Bixby, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 23, 2005 at approximately 1200 local time, a Piper PA-23, N859DA registered to [privacy data omitted] and piloted by commercial multi engine… 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.