NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE REPORT

LAX87LA316.html
1987, 4n between airports.
Loss of engine power in one of the two engines after takeoff.  The pilot had ignored an FAA administrative directive (AD) to drain the fuel system to avoid build up of water and sediment.  When pilot first started the affected engine, it ran rough, but cleared up.  On the initial take-off, the affected engine again ran rough, and the pilot aborted the take-off.  The pilot did a "run up check", and the initiated a second take-off attempt.  After climbing to 300 ft, the engine again started to run rough.  The engine was shut off, and the pilot did a controlled landing in a marsh. 

(Gee, do you think that the loss of power during the first take-off attempt would make you immediately take the plane in for service and forego flying that day????  Especially when you are carrying three passengers???  - POP editor)

   Data Source:                          NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
   Report Number:                        LAX87LA316 
   Local Date:                           08/23/1987
   Local Time:                           1530 PDT
   State:                                CA    
   City:                                 CONCORD                            
   Airport Name:                         BUCHANAN FIELD           
   Airport Id:                           CCR   
   Event Type:                           ACCIDENT
   Injury Severity:                      NONE   
   Report Status:                        FINAL      
   Mid Air Collision:                    NO 

   Category of Operation:                GENERAL AVIATION       
   Aircraft Type:                        AIRPLANE       
   Aircraft Damage:                      SUBSTANTIAL      
   Phase of Flight:                      570 LANDING                                           
   Aircraft Make/Model:                  PIPER PA-30-30                  
   Operator Doing Business As:                                         
   Operator Name:                                                      
   Operator Code:                        
   Operator:                                                                       
   Owner Name:                           JAMES WARNICK                 

   AFTER AN ANNUAL INSPECTION THE ACFT WAS PREPARED FOR A TEST FLIGHT. THE 
   PILOT LOADED 3 PASSENGERS AND BEGAN THE RUN-UP CHECKS. DURING RUN-UP 
   THE LEFT ENGINE RAN ROUGH. AFTER THE ROUGHNESS CLEARED THE PILOT 
   INITIATED THE TAKEOFF. AS THE ACFT ACCELERATED DOWN THE RWY THE LEFT 
   ENGINE RAN ROUGH AGAIN AND THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED. THE PILOT MADE 
   ANOTHER RUN-UP CHECK AND ANOTHER TAKEOFF ATTEMPT WAS MADE WITHOUT 
   INCIDENT. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED THRU 300 FEET MSL THE RT ENGINE BEGAN 
   TO SPUTTER. THE CLIMB WAS CONTINUED TO 500 FEET MSL BEFORE THE POWER 
   FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS REDUCED AND THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN 
   AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER. THE ACFT DESCENDED AS THE PILOT INITIATED 
   A TURN TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND IMPACTED THE MARSHY GROUND 2.75 MILES 
   FROM THE AIRPORT. POST ACC EXAM REVEALED WATER AND RUST PARTICILES ON 
   THE INJECTOR DIAPHRAGM AND ON THE FUEL INLET SCREEN. AN AD WAS ISSUED 
   ON THIS ACFT REQUIRING DAILY AND POST REFUELING CHECKS OF THE FUEL SYS 
   BY DRAINING TO AVOID THE ACCUMULATION OF WATER AND SEDIMENT.

   Occurrence #: 1  354 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER (PARTIAL) - NON-MECHANICAL
   Phase of Operation: 522 TAKEOFF - INITIAL CLIMB

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

     1a.   17001(S) - 1193(M)  Cause
           FLUID, FUEL - WATER
     1b.   24002(S) - 3115(M) - 4000(P)  Cause
           AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT - INADEQUATE - PILOT IN COMMAND
     2b.   24103(S) - 3106(M) - 4000(P)  Cause
           MAINTENANCE, COMPLIANCE WITH AD - DISREGARDED - PILOT IN COMMAND

   Occurrence #: 2  180 FORCED LANDING
   Phase of Operation: 552 DESCENT - EMERGENCY

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor


   Occurrence #: 3  230 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
   Phase of Operation: 571 LANDING - FLARE/TOUCHDOWN

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

     1b.   24545(S) - 3109(M) - 4000(P)  Cause
           EMERGENCY PROCEDURE - IMPROPER - PILOT IN COMMAND

   Number of Seats:                      4  
   Aircraft Use:                                            
   Type of Operation:                    14 CFR 91 
   Domestic/International:                            
   Passenger/Cargo:                                        
   Registration Number:                  8441  
   Air Carrier Operating Certificates:   
   Aircraft Fire:                        NONE

                  Injuries
          Fatal  Serious  Minor  None
   Crew      0       0       0      1
   Pass      0       0       0      3
   Other     0       0       0      0
   Invlvd    0       0       0      4

   Landing Gear:                         TRICYCLE-RETRACTABLE
   Certificated Maximum Gross Weight:    3600
   Engine Make:                          LYCOMING     
   Engine Model:                         IO-320-B1A   
   Number of Engines:                     2
   Engine Type:                          RECIPROCATING-FUEL INJECTED 

   Basic Weather Conditions:             VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC)  
   Wind Direction (deg):                 310
   Wind Speed (knots):                   12
   Visibility (sm):                      25
   Visibility RVR (ft):                  0
   Visibility RVV (sm):                  0
   Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 15000
   Visibility Restrictions:              
   Precipitation Type:                   
   Light Condition:                      DAYLIGHT
   Departure Airport Id:                 CCR 
   Departure City:                       CONCORD        
   Departure State:                      CA
   Destination Airport Id:                   
   Destination City:                                    
   Destination State:                      
   Flight Plan Filed:                    NONE
   ATC Clearance:                        NONE
   VFR Approach/Landing:                 NONE
   Event Location:                       OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP

   Certificates:                         AIRLINE TRANSPORT
   Ratings:
     Plane:                              SINGLE ENGINE LAND, MULTIENGINE LAND
     Non-Plane:                          NONE
     Instrument:                         AIRPLANE
   Had Current BFR:                      YES
   Months Since Last BFR:                23
   Medical Certificate:                  CLASS 2
   Medical Certificate Validity:         VALID MEDICAL-WITH WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS

              Flight Time (Hours)
   Total       :   2440  Last 24 Hrs :    0
   Make/Model  :    440  Last 30 Days:    0
   Instrument  :    272  Last 90 Days:    5
   Multi-Engine:    535  Rotorcraft  :    0