Piper PA-23-250 N14260

Summary

On 29 March 1996 at about 18:01 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N14260, operated by Carl J. Congdon, was involved in an accident near Torrance, California, 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

29 March 1996 at 18:01

Classification

Accident

Location

Torrance, California, United States

Nearest airport

Torrance Muni (TOA)

Coordinates

33.7995, -118.3494

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-250

Registration

N14260

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Carl J. Congdon

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA147

Nobody was injured.

inadequate maintenance and inspection of the airplane; rust and water contamination in the aircraft fuel system; a worn shaft and cracked coupling in the left engine's left magneto, a malfunctioning left magneto on the right engine, and contamination (oil and corrosion) in the right magneto housing of the right engine; all of which resulted in loss of power in both engines and a subsequent forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft (acft) had been inactive in outside storage since early 1989. The pilot purchased the acft & had an annual inspection performed, which was completed on 3/28/96. On 3/29/96, he & a flight instructor (CFI) took off on the 1st flight after the inspection. One engine began to run rough & lose power. The pilots turned back toward the airport, but before they reached the runway (rwy), the 2nd engine quit running. On short final, the 1st engine, which had been running rough, also quit running. There was insufficient altitude to reach the rwy; during touchdown short of the rwy, the acft was damaged. Maintenance records stated that during the annual inspection, new fuel lines were installed & both gascolators were cleaned & inspected. The recorded entry of annual inspection noted 'All fuel and oil lines checked, all accessories inspected.' During a postaccident inspection, rust colored deposits were found in both gascolators, & water was noted in the left gascolator bowl. Both gascolator screens were dark in appearance with water corrosion. Dark colored contamination was found in the left & right fuel servo inlet screens. The shaft of the left engine's left magneto had a wobble, & its drive coupling was cracked. The right engine's left magneto did not produce a spark, when tested. Also, contamination (oil & corrosion) were found inside the right engine's right magneto housing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.