Piper PA-60-600 N6070D

Summary

On 5 February 1991 at about 07:10 local time, a Piper PA-60-600 registered N6070D, operated by Top Flight Inc., was involved in an incident near Cochran, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 February 1991 at 07:10

Classification

Incident

Location

Cochran, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Cochran (48A)

Coordinates

32.3807, -83.3505

Aircraft

Piper PA-60-600

Registration

N6070D

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Top Flight Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Tampa

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL91IA050

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE RIGHT ENGINE SHUTOFF VALVE WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS A RESULT OF THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT. FACTORS IN THIS INCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT, AND A LOSS OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE WHEN THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE CRUISING AT 7000 FEET THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE PILOT REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM JACKSONVILLE CENTER, AND WAS VECTORED TO COCHRAN AIRPORT. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE WING FLAPS. APPARENTLY, AFTER THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH HYDRAULIC PRESSURE AVAILABLE TO LOWER THE WING FLAPS. THE ONLY HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO A DITCH. THE PILOT STATED THAT HEAVY LEFT BRAKING WAS USED, BUT FAILED TO CORRECT THE RIGHTWARD DRIFT. ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT MANUAL, THE PILOT SHOULD USE ENGINE POWER AND BRAKING TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE HAD FAILED AND FUEL WAS SHUTOFF TO THE RIGHT ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, THE RIGHT WING SPAR WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO RESTORING THE AIRPLANE TO A FULL AIRWORTHY STATUS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.