N181MM

History of the Flight

On February 8, 2001, about 0810 Atlantic Standard Time, a Piper PA-30, N181MM, registered to MAJ, LLC, and operated by the pilot, as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, from Ponce, Puerto Rico to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ponce. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

Witnesses stated the pilot had trouble starting the right engine while at the fueling ramp. After he got the right engine started it made a popping noise. The pilot taxied the airplane to runway 12 and proceeded to take off with the right engine still making a popping sound. After takeoff the airplane climbed to between 250-300 feet, with the landing gear still extended. The airplane then began to lose altitude and it was observed turning to the right. As the airplane turned right onto a downwind leg, it suddenly rolled to the right inverted and pitched down, making a descending right turn until ground impact.

Personnel Information

The pilot, age 55, held a FAA commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings, last issued on May 5, 1993. The pilot held a FAA flight instructor certificate with airplane single engine and instrument airplane ratings, issued on September 7, 1999, when the pilot received the instrument airplane rating. The pilot held a FAA class 2 medical certificate issued on October 2, 1999, with the limitation that the holder must wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision when flying. Pilot logbook records show that at the time of the accident the pilot had accumulated 1,574 total flight hours, with 353 flight hours in multiengine airplanes. The total flight time in the Piper PA-30 could not be determined. The last entry in the pilot logbook was on July 17, 2000. (See pilot logbook records.)

Aircraft Information

The airplane was a Piper Aircraft Corporation, model PA-30, registration number N181MM, serial number 30-197, manufactured in 1963. The airplane was equipped with Lycoming model IO-320, 160 horsepower, counter rotating engines with Rayjay turbochargers installed. At the time of the accident the airplane had accumulated 5,202 total flight hours. The airplane was last inspected on February 1, 2000, 70 flight hours before the accident, when it received an annual inspection.

The left engine, a Lycoming model IO-320-B1A, serial number L-3789-55A, was installed new in 1970. In June 1982 the engine was overhauled. At the time of the accident the left engine had accumulated 3,454 total flight hours and 1,440 flight hours since overhaul. The left propeller was removed from the airplane and shipped to a propeller shop in August 2000, for repair of bending damage to the No. 1 blade. The propeller was returned to the pilot's maintenance company in January 2001 and reinstalled on the airplane. At the time of the accident the airplane had accumulated about 1 flight hours since the installation of the left propeller.

The right engine was a Lycoming LIO-320-C1A, serial number L-197-66A, installed new in 1970. In June 1982 the engine was overhauled. At the time of the accident, the right engine had accumulated 3,414 total flight hours, and 1,440 flight hours since overhaul. The right propeller was overhauled on January 17, 1991, 641 flight hours before the accident. Logbook records show the right engine fuel servo was installed new on October 6, 1970, 3,414 flight hours before the accident. No record of overhaul or repair of the fuel injector after this date is shown in the logbook records. (See logbook records.)

Two persons who work for the repair company that installed the left propeller, after repair and overhaul , stated that they flew with the accident pilot after the propeller was installed. They stated that during engine runup, the propellers were exercised and that they operated normally. During the first takeoff, the right engine made popping noises, but cleared after several minutes. The airplane and engines operated normally after this, except for a piece of tape that migrated over the pitot tube during flight and caused the airspeed to become inoperative. (See statement.)

Meteorological Information

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The Mercedita International Airport, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 0750 surface weather observation was wind 040 degrees at 5 knots, clouds 4,000 feet scattered, visibility 12 statute miles, temperature 73 degrees F., dew point temperature 70 degrees F., altimeter setting 30.08 inches HG.

Wreckage and Impact Information

The airplane crashed about 1 mile southeast of the approach end of runway 30 at the Mercedita International Airport, Ponce, Puerto Rico. The crash coordinates were 17 degrees, 59 minutes, 47.3 seconds, north latitude, and 66 degrees, 33 minutes, 14.7 seconds, west longitude. The airplane was lying upright on a 150 degree heading. Initial impact had occurred while the airplane was in a nose down, near vertical descent. After initial impact the left propeller separated from the left engine and remained imbedded in the ground. The airplane then bounced backward about 50 feet, where it came to rest. All components the airplane, which are necessary for flight, were located on or around the main wreckage. Continuity of the flight control system was confirmed. There were no separation points in the flight control system. The landing gear was extended on impact, and the wing flaps were retracted.

Examination of the cockpit showed that the left fuel tank selector was on the left main tank position. The right fuel tank selector was off. After the accident, a laptop computer case was found lying over the fuel selectors on the floor between the pilot seats. The left engine throttle control was in the full increase position, and the right engine throttle control was in the low power position. The left and right propeller controls were in the midrange position. The left engine mixture control was in the high midrange position, and the right engine mixture control was in the low midrange position. Continuity of the engine control cables was confirmed. The landing gear control was in the down position and the wing flap control was in the retracted position. Both engine alternate air controls were in the closed position. The engine magneto switches were destroyed by impact forces. All airframe fuel system lines were unobstructed and no contamination was found in the airframe fuel system. The left fuel selector valve would shutoff fuel flow when in the off position. The right fuel selector valve allowed some fuel to pass when in the off position due to a rusted ball in the valve.

Examination of the left engine showed that the left propeller separated from the engine during ground impact when the attaching bolts separated from the crankshaft propeller flange. The engine rotated and continuity of the crankshaft, camshaft, valve train, and accessory drives was confirmed. Each cylinder produced compression when the engine was rotated. The engine assembly contained oil and the engine fuel system contained uncontaminated fuel. Each magneto operated normally when rotated by hand. The spark plugs had deposits with color consistent with normal engine operation. The vacuum pump operated when turned by hand. Disassembly of the damaged propeller governor showed no evidence of failure or malfunction. The engine-driven fuel pump operated normally.

Examination of the right engine showed that the right propeller remained attached to the engine. The engine rotated and continuity of the crankshaft, camshaft, valve train, and accessory drives was confirmed. Each cylinder produced compression when the engine was rotated. The engine assembly contained oil and the engine fuel system contained uncontaminated fuel. Each magneto operated normally when rotated by hand. The spark plugs had dark colored deposits and some oil fouling. The vacuum pump operated when turned by hand. The propeller governor was tested and showed no evidence of failure or malfunction. The engine-driven fuel pump operated normally.

Examination of the left propeller showed that the propeller remained embedded in the ground vertically after initial ground impact. The propeller spinner had damage consistent with rotation under power at the time of ground impact. Each blade had some twisting damage and was bent aft about 25 degrees. Disassembly of the propeller showed damage consistent with the propeller being in the low pitch position during ground impact. Dome pressure was 46 psi. The pitch change knobs had sheared due to over stress. No evidence of precrash failure or malfunction was found.

Examination of the right propeller showed that it remained attached to the right engine after the initial impact. The propeller spinner displayed torsional damage consistent with a slow rotation speed during ground impact.. Ground impact occurred in a near vertical descent. One blade was bent aft about 20 degree. The other blade was bent aft slightly, near the root, and bent forward near the tip. Neither blade had any twisting damage. The blades were locked on the start latches at the 18 degree angle. The propeller was actuated from the 18 degree position down to the low pitch position with no evidence of failure or malfunction. Disassembly of the propeller showed no internal damage. The start latches moved freely. Dome pressure was 42 psi. No evidence of precrash failure or malfunction was found.

Postcrash testing of the left engine fuel system showed that the fuel servo operated normally on a test bench and no contamination was present in the servo. The left fuel flow divider and fuel injectors operated normally on a test bench.

Postcrash testing of the right engine fuel system ...