Pilot Landed His Piper Navajo On Beach In Florida, Was
Uninjured
The pilot of a Piper Navajo who departed the Bahamas for Florida
ran into a problem near the end of his flight, but fortunately he
managed to make it just to the shore. The NTSB preliminary report
indicates the pilot followed correct procedures for a fuel problem,
but he wound up landing on the sand in West Palm Beach, FL, when
both engines lost power. The pilot was not injured in the
incident.
NTSB Identification: ERA12LA165
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, January 28, 2012 in West Palm Beach,
FL
Aircraft: PIPER PA-31-310, registration: N30DC
Injuries: 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 January 28, 2012, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Piper
PA-31-310, N30DC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing
to a beach near West Palm Beach, Florida, following a loss of
engine power in both engines. The certificated airline transport
pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated
by Secure Aviation, Inc., under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part
91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight
rules fight plan was filed for the personal flight, which
originated at San Salvador International Airport (MYSM), San
Salvador, Bahamas, around 1220. The intended destination was St.
Lucie County International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida.
According to the pilot, prior to the flight, the preflight
inspection and engine run up were "normal." After departing the
airport, and climbing to 10,500 feet, the left engine was unable to
maintain more than 55 percent power. The pilot reduced the power
setting of the right engine to match the left engine, and noted a 4
gallon per hour reduction in fuel consumption. He initiated a 400
feet per minute descent about 60 nautical miles from FPR, and about
40 nautical miles away the left engine began to surge. The pilot
turned on the fuel boost pump and selected fuel cross feed, and the
power in the left engine was restored.
Piper Navajo File Photo
The pilot determined that the closest airport was Palm Beach
International Airport (PBI), West Palm Beach, Florida, and
continued the flight toward PBI. He contacted Palm Beach Approach
Control and continued to descend. The left engine subsequently lost
power, followed by the right engine. The pilot turned on the fuel
boost pumps and moved the fuel selector to several different
settings, but was unable to restart the engines. He feathered both
propellers and elected to land on a beach. The pilot completed the
landing check, selected full flaps, and touched down on the beach
in a nose high attitude. The airplane spun to the left and came to
rest upright.
According to an FAA inspector who examined the airplane, the
right engine firewall was substantially damaged. The airplane and
engines have been retained for examination.