# NTSB WPR14LA298: Piper PA 30, N7981Y, Othello, WA, July 17, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2014, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Othello, WA - Coordinates: 47.316665, -119.133331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3167&lon=-119.1333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89691/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89691 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA298 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103002), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot of the twin-engine airplane was preparing to take off for a cross-country flight. He reported that during the power up for takeoff, the left engine was at 2,200 rpm while the right engine was at 2,600 rpm. He leaned the mixture on the left engine to bring the rpm up to 2,600 and proceeded with the takeoff. After the takeoff roll, he started to climb the airplane and noted that the exhaust gas temperature on the left engine was much higher than on the right engine. The left engine rpm suddenly dropped to 2,000, and the airplane yawed to the left and started to descend. The pilot could not stop the yaw and descent, and the airplane impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he should not have leaned the left engine for takeoff. A review of the left engine's logbook revealed a logbook entry about 4 months before the accident noting that the fuel flow divider, fuel servo, and turbo charger had been removed, repaired, and reinstalled. The entry also noted that a flow test was performed and that the engine was tested, checked for leaks, and returned to service. The airplane and engines were sold for salvage and were not available for examination; therefore, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 17, about 1515 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-30 twin-engine airplane, N7981Y, was substantially damaged following a partial loss of power on the left engine, and a collision with terrain during takeoff/initial climb at the Othello Municipal Airport, Othello, Washington. The private pilot and the three passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to Warden Air, LLC and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The airplane was departing at the time and was destined for Klamath Falls, Oregon. The pilot reported that during the power up for takeoff, the left engine revolutions per minute (RPM) was 2,200 while the right engine was 2,600 RPM. He leaned the mixture on the left engine to bring the RPM up to 2,600 and proceeded with the takeoff. After the takeoff roll he initiated a climb and noted that the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) on the left engine was much higher than the EGT of the right engine. The left engine RPM suddenly dropped to 2,000 RPM and the airplane yawed to the left and started to descend. The pilot was unable to overcome the yaw and descent, and the airplane impacted the ground. The pilot reported that he should not have leaned the left engine for takeoff. A review of the left engine's logbook revealed a logbook entry dated March 21, 2014 indicating that the fuel flow divider had been removed, repaired, and reinstalled. The fuel servo and turbo charger had also been removed, repaired, and reinstalled. The entry also noted that a flow test was performed, the engine was run tested and checked for leaks, and returned to service. The pilot did not provide the time the airplane had flown since the maintenance work was completed. The NTSB did not respond to the accident site and the wreckage was retained by the insurance company. Prior to examination, the wreckage and engines were sold for salvage and no longer available for examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7981Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7981Y-2015-09-28), registration cancelled 2015-09-28, S/N 30-1082, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 30 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1082 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: S70, Othello, WA - Destination: KLMT, Klamath Falls, OR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: S70, Othello Municipal, runway 25, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 756 total, 82 in this make and model, 681 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KMWH, 27 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 20140717012499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140717012499A), Jul 17, 2014: Piper PA-30, Othello, WA, Substantial damage. While departing Othello Municipal Airport (S70) to the west, shortly after rotation the left engine lost power. The aircraft was unable to sustain flight. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 23, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89691. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 444 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Left Engine Logbook Entry (item 2, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Left%20Engine%20Logbook%20Entry-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 515 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479362&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.