Pushing Both Throttles Forward Results In 'Less-Than-Desired' Response... By Half

It's every CFI-ME's worst nightmare -- the simulated engine failure that turns into the real thing. The best CFI-ME's are not only prepared for it... but they count on them happening at the worst possible times... like this time -- the biggest problem comes, though, when these incidents occur with no way out.

NTSB Identification: WPR10LA210
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, April 20, 2010 in Tooele, UT
Aircraft: PIPER PA-44-180, registration: N331GP
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On April 20, 2010, about 1905 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N331GP, experienced a gear collapse during a forced landing about two miles southeast of Tooele Valley Airport, Tooele, Utah. The certified flight instructor was not injured, his private pilot rated student received minor injuries, and the airplane, which was operated by Leading Edge Aviation, sustained substantial damage to both its fuselage and its wings. The 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 instructional flight departed Salt Lake City International Airport about 65 minutes prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the flight instructor, after departing the Salt Lake City area the student executed a simulated engine-out ILS (instrument landing system) approach to Tooele Valley Airport; with the right engine at idle during the approach. At the completion of the approach, a touch-and-go landing was performed, with both engines being brought up to full power during the takeoff. The student then stayed in the VFR (visual flight rules) pattern, and performed a short field landing using both engines. After that landing, power was added to both engines for a normal takeoff, but as the airplane got to about 200 to 300 feet above ground level (agl), over the departure end of the runway, it suddenly lost all power in the left engine. At that time the flight instructor took control of the airplane, confirmed that the left engine had lost all power, and then attempted to feather the left engine. Soon thereafter it became obvious to the instructor that the airplane was losing altitude too quickly for him to safely maneuver back around to the airport, so he picked out an area for a forced landing and headed toward that location. While he was about 50 feet in the air he lowered the landing gear, but he left the flaps in the full up position. Although the touchdown was successful, during the landing roll the airplane encountered some rough terrain that resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear, and the sideways impact of some low vegetation.

File Photo

The airplane is currently being recovered to a facility where further inspection of its engines and systems may be performed.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20100420X32503&key=1