N821AC

On October 16, 1994, at 1115 central daylight time, N821AC, a Piper PA-23-250, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Fredericksburg, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The following is based on the pilot's report. During the en route climb, the pilot heard a loud noise and noted the left engine losing power. He retarded the throttle, and turned the airplane around in an attempt to return to the airport. He then noticed the left engine nacelle was on fire and he shut off the fuel supply. The fire appeared to extinguish. The pilot then retarded the mixture control to idle cutoff and retarded the propeller control to the feather position.

The airplane owner's manual states (in part): "...the propeller on the dead engine should be feathered by pulling the throttle to idling position and the prop pitch control back fully; then the mixture should be set at idle cut-off and the ignition off." The handbook further states: "The Hartzell feathering propellers can only be feathered while the failed engine is rotating, and not if the engine drops below 1,000 RPM, because the centrifugal force due to rotation is necessary to hold out a stop-pin which keeps the propeller from feathering each time the engine is stopped on the ground. . .single engine flight can be maintained with the dead engine propeller unfeathered, although a noticeable decrease in single engine performance will take place." Retarding the mixture before retarding the propeller will cause the engine to stop with a resultant loss of oil pressure.

The following is based on the continuation of the pilot's report. Although the pilot maintained full power on the right engine and 104 MPH (90 knots) indicated airspeed (best single engine rate of climb airspeed), the airplane descended at 200 to 250 feet per minute. He then noticed the propeller had failed to feather, and

it became apparent he was not going to make it to the airport. The pilot made a forced wheels down landing in a field near the airport. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a terrace in the field and the landing gear collapsed.

The left engine was later examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector. According to his report, fire damage was confined to the left side of the engine. Some highlights of his report:

> Oil seepage around a broken turbocharger oil inlet supply line; > Fire damage to the insulated fuel and oil lines in the middle and left side of the accessory section; > Heat damage and a 1-1/2 inch brown stain on the clamp that attaches the tailpipe to the exhaust side of the turbocharger;

> Heat damage to the turbocharger heat shield; > Loose fuel injector supply lines (a similar situation was found on the right engine).

According to the FAA, the airplane had been at the Fredericksburg Airport to be painted and some engine maintenance. The latter required the removal and reattachment of fuel lines.