MIA96LA149

During takeoff, the pilot retracted the landing gear, then a 'power loss' occurred at an altitude of about 150 feet AGL, followed by a 'rapid speed loss to Vmc...84 Knots.' The airplane was still over the runway, and the pilot elected to land straight ahead. After evacuating the airplane, he noted that the landing gear was in an intermediate position, and the right tire had blown out. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that both engines lost power just after takeoff. He stated that the left engine lost power first with its manifold pressure dropping from 40' hg to 25' hg, then the right engine had a 'partial loss of power.' Both engines were operationally checked, but no discrepancies were found with either engine during the test runs.

On May 24, 1996, about 1028 eastern daylight time, a Piper-Smith PA-60-601P, N441CB, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, business flight, en route to Greenville, South Carolina, then to Michigan, crashed in the vicinity of Orlando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured.

According to the pilot's statement, after being cleared for takeoff on runway 18R, he started the takeoff roll, rotated the airplane at 100 knots, and retracted the landing gear. He stated there was a "power loss" at an altitude of about 250 feet mean sea level, then a "rapid speed loss to Vmc...84 Knots." The flight was still over the runway, when the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. He pushed the nose forward and landed straight ahead on the runway. After evacuating the airplane, the pilot noted that the landing gear had not fully retracted, and the right tire had blown.

The FAA interviewed the pilot, and he stated to them, "...that he had experienced a power loss in both engines just after take off...the left engine lost power first, and the left engine manifold pressure indication dropped from 40 " hg. To 25"hg. The right engine subsequently experienced a partial loss of power...[the pilot] elected to put the aircraft back on to the runway before the airplane stalled."

On July 10, 1996, both of the airplane's engines were test run on the ramp, at Signature Aviation, Orlando, Florida. No discrepancies were found with either engine during the test runs.