ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 205511
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 27 October 1989 |
| Time: | 09:32 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-44-180 Seminole |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | VH-TVP |
| MSN: | 44-7995097 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Kinglake, VIC -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | YSCB |
| YMEN | |
| Investigating agency: | BASI |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Shortly after the aircraft passed overhead Eildon Weir in the cruise, the right engine began to run roughly. The pilot carried out appropriate trouble checks but was unable to restore full power to the engine. As he believed that some power was being delivered, he refrained from shutting down the right engine. The pilot realised that the left engine was also deficient in power output. He was in cloud and unable to maintain altitude. Trouble checks confirmed that the right magneto had failed completely whereas with the left magneto selected the engine continued to run roughly. The pilot attempted to divert to Lilydale airfield which was closer than Essendon. While still over the Great Dividing Range, where ground level was about 1800 feet above the sea, the aircraft descended through the cloud base. The pilot suddenly found himself about 35 feet above the trees with rising ground and trees ahead. He managed to carry out a successful forced landing into a ploughed paddock on sloping ground. An on-site examination of the right engine discovered that the sump was overflowing with a mixture of oil and AVGAS. The engine was removed and test run. A carburation problem caused a lean cut. The carburettor was dismantled and revealed excessive play between the float and the support spindle. The fuel valve retractor clip was loose and the valve was scored. The loose retractor clip could move to jam between the float and the spindle support thereby restricting float movement. The scoring on the fuel valve flutes allowed the valve to jam in the valve body thereby restricting fuel flow into the float chamber. It was concluded that the restriction to the float movement, coupled with the jammed fuel valve, had reduced the fuel flow into the float chamber and delivered an increasingly lean mixture to the right engine in flight. The engine at first ran rough but as the fuel level in the float chamber dropped further, the engine ceased delivering significant power. With the throttle wide open, the mixture rich and the fuel boost pump on, it is suspected that either the float or the fuel valve became free again. This could allow fuel to flood the engine causing a rich cut. The engine manufacturer advised that this set of conditions could result in the sump containing AVGAS. A test run of the left engine discovered that its right magneto was inoperative and that the left magneto was malfunctioning. The main coil lead in the right magneto was found detached from its terminal. The lead was fitted with a flag type terminal that had lost its tension and was capable of slipping off the fixed terminal. The fixed terminal showed evidence of burning and arcing consistent with a loose fit. The left magneto condenser lead had been routed such that it had been rubbing against the magneto cam. The insulation on the condenser wire had worn through exposing bare wires which shorted-out on the cam. This resulted in an intermittent spark which produced rough running and loss of power.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1989/aair/aair198901559/
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/26511/aair198901559.pdf
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Feb-2018 11:28 | Pineapple | Added |
| 02-Feb-2018 11:28 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation