Piper PA-32RT-300T N39628 accident near Lake Worth, Florida

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.

NTSB analysis

After an uneventful flight and landing the pilot purchased 10 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel for a total fuel load of 27 gallons for his next flight to his destination airport about 55 nautical miles away. The takeoff and initial climb were normal, but shortly after retracting flaps and making a power adjustment, the engine began to lose power and his attempt to regain power was unsuccessful. The pilot stated there was “no roughness” in the engine before or during the power loss. Unable to maintain level flight, and at an altitude of 300 ft above ground level, he made a forced landing on a paved road. During the landing attempt, the airplane struck treetops and a fence, shearing off the landing gear. The airplane skidded about 500 ft before coming to rest against a guardrail, sustaining substantial damage during the impact.

Recovered fuel revealed no discrepancies or contamination and the flight computer showed 26 gallons were on board at the time of the accident. Examination of the engine and its subcomponents did not reveal any reason for the loss of engine power. An examination, teardown, and functional test of the turbo charger revealed rotational scoring on the intake housing and all components were observed to be normal. The functional test did not reveal any anomalies. While rust was discovered on the shaft and housing, the airplane was stored outside in hot humid conditions months after recovery, so it is likely that it developed after the accident and did not contribute to the loss of power.

Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for loss of engine power could not be determined.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA23LA040 for the full record.