# NTSB LAX97LA154: Piper PA-31-350, N27659, Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), April 10, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 1997, 07:06 local (17:06 UTC) - Place: Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29767/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA154 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power in one engine for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the aircraft's diminished single engine performance during the early portion of the overweight ferry flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - 1 engine - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - aircraft performance,engine out capability - exceeded (contributing factor) - Ditching, descent - emergency ## Analysis The aircraft was being operated on a trans-Pacific ferry flight. A special flight permit authorized a gross weight increase and ferry fuel tanks had been installed along with long range communication and navigation radios. The pilot reported that when 85 miles from the departure airport, the right engine failed and he was unable to restart it. Power from the remaining engine was insufficient to maintain level flight at the overweight condition and the pilot permitted the aircraft to drift down until it was necessary to ditch in the ocean 28 miles offshore. The pilot had departed and returned to Hawaii twice previously. The first time he returned due to an oil leak on the left engine, and the second time because of a loose window. A mechanic who repaired the window reported that the left engine appeared to still be leaking oil. Both pilots told the FAA inspector that the oil leak had been repaired. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 1997, at 0706 hours Hawaiian standard time, a Piper PA-31-350, N27659, was destroyed when it ditched in the Pacific ocean, 30 miles northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, following loss of power in one engine. The aircraft departed Hilo on a VFR flight plan at 0546. The ferry flight was destined for Hayward, California, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Both of the airline transport pilots were not injured. The aircraft was being operated on a special (ferry) flight permit which authorized a gross weight increase to 9,500 pounds. Ferry fuel tanks had been installed, along with long range communication and navigation radios. The pilot reported that when 85 miles northeast of Hilo, the right engine failed in a slow, gradual loss of power, and he was unable to restart it. He feathered the propeller, declared an emergency, and reversed course. Power from the remaining engine was insufficient to maintain level flight at the overweight condition, and he permitted the aircraft to drift down until he ditched in the ocean 28 miles offshore. He and the other pilot evacuated the aircraft into life rafts, the aircraft sank, and they were rescued by Coast Guard helicopters about 2 hours later. The location of the ditching was latitude 20 degrees 05.34 minutes north, and 154 degrees 40.04 minutes west. According to inspectors from the FAA Honolulu Flight Standards District Office, the pilot had departed and returned to Hawaii twice previously. The first time he returned due to an oil leak on the left engine, and the second time because the pilot's openable window was "coming off". A mechanic who repaired the window reported that the left engine appeared to still be leaking oil. Both pilots told the FAA inspector that the oil leak had been repaired. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27659](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27659-1998-08-31), registration cancelled 1998-08-31, S/N 317852090 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7852090 - Airframe hours: 5074 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot Services Intl - Registered owner: Paragon Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Special flight (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 1997, 6 hours before - Departed: ITO, HILO, HI - Destination: HWD, HAYWARD, CA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,700 total, 15 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ITO, 30 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 19970410005669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970410005669A), Apr 10, 1997: Piper PA31350, Hilo, HI, Destroyed. Lost right engine. Feathered. Unable stay aloft due overweight ferry tanks. Ditched in ocean. Prior aborted flights 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.