Piper PA34
Miami, FL — September 11, 2018
Event Information
| Date | September 11, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA559 |
| Event ID | 20180911X54923 |
| Location | Miami, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 25.86194, -80.89694 |
| Airport | Dade-Collier Training And Tran |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Piper |
| Model | PA34 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot under instruction’s failure to maintain the twin-engine airplane’s minimum control airspeed with one engine inoperative and the flight instructor’s distraction when reconfiguring the airplane following the simulated engine failure, which resulted in no power being available to the left engine and a loss of control during landing when the throttles were advanced to increase airspeed.
Full Narrative
The flight instructor in the multi-engine airplane reported that the pilot under instruction was wearing a view limiting device during a simulated instrument approach in visual flight rules conditions.
The instructor placed the left engine fuel selector in the off position to simulate an engine out, and the pilot under instruction initiated the left engine failure procedure placing the engine and propeller levers in a simulated feathered zero thrust configuration. The instructor became distracted by traffic and failed to place the left engine fuel selector in the on position.
With full flaps applied and the landing gear extended, about 250 feet AGL the instructor terminated the simulated instrument approach and instructed the pilot to land visually, however, the airspeed decreased below safe limits and he instructed the pilot to increase the airspeed. The pilot increased power on both engines, however, there was no increase in power on the left engine and the airplane rolled to the left about 45°. The instructor came on the controls and applied right aileron and right rudder, but the airplane touched down in a level attitude in a shallow lagoon on the left side of the runway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage bulkheads.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.