Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 31T near Elko, NV — 2016-11-19

Final reportWPR17FA024
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Date
2016-11-19
Location
Elko, NV, USA
Airport
EKO
Aircraft
PIPER PA 31T
Registration
N779MF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
4
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power to the left engine for reasons that could not be determined due to the extensive fire and impact damage to the airplane.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot departed in the twin-engine, turbine-powered airplane on an air ambulance flight with two medical crewmembers and a patient on board in night visual meteorological conditions. According to a witness, during the initial climb, the airplane made a left turn of about 30° from the runway heading, then stopped climbing, made an abrupt left bank, and began to descend. The airplane impacted a parking lot and erupted into flames. In the 2 months before the accident, pilots had notified maintenance personnel three times that the left engine was not producing the same power as the right engine. In response, mechanics had replaced the left engine's bleed valve three times with the final replacement taking place three days before the accident. In addition, about 1 month before the accident, the left engine's fuel control unit was replaced during trouble shooting of an oil leak. Postaccident examination revealed that the right engine and propeller displayed more pronounced rotational signatures than the left engine and propeller. This is consistent with the left engine not producing power or being at a low power setting at impact. Further, the abrupt left bank and descent observed by the witness are consistent with a loss of left engine power during initial climb. The extensive fire and impact damage to the airplane precluded determination of the reason for the loss of left engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff after engine performance issues were noted.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

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