Piper PA-44-180 N46RJ

Summary

On 3 July 1992 at about 13:45 local time, a Piper PA-44-180 registered N46RJ, operated by Southwind FLT Trng System Inc, was involved in an accident near Port Isabel, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 1992 at 13:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Isabel, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Port Isabel-Cameron Cty (T31)

Coordinates

26.0700, -97.2200

Aircraft

Piper PA-44-180

Registration

N46RJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Southwind FLT Trng System Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brownsville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW92LA178

Nobody was injured.

THE LOSS OF POWER TO THE RIGHT ENGINE DUE TO A FRACTURED CRANKSHAFT WHILE THE LEFT ENGINE WAS SECURED. FACTORS WERE THE DUAL STUDENTS FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHILE PERFORMING MANEUVERS AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE DUAL STUDENT HAD PERFORMED SEVERAL MANEUVERS WITH THE LEFT ENGINE WINDMILLING AND DID NOT USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHEN CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS PREVAILED. UPON COMPLETING A MANEUVER AND RETURNING TO CRUISE FLIGHT, A POWER LOSS OCCURRED TO THE LEFT ENGINE. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND INITIATED A NORMAL DESCENT TOWARD A NEARBY AIRPORT. DURING THE DESCENT, HE SECURED THE LEFT ENGINE. AS THE AIRPLANE TURNED BASE TO FINAL APPROACH, THE RIGHT ENGINE'S CRANKSHAFT FRACTURED AND A FORCED LANDING HAD TO BE MADE TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY TEST RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT. A TEARDOWN OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED THE FRACTURED CRANKSHAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.