Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 18, 2012, about 1532 mountain daylight time, the pilot of a Piper PA-46-350P, N188SR, made a forced landing in a field near Kiowa, Colorado, after the engine lost power. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a ferry flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Centennial Airport (KAPA), Englewood, Colorado, approximately 1515, and was destined for Pascagoula (KPQL), Mississippi.

According to a statement submitted by the pilot, he was conducting a ferry flight for a friend who had just purchased the airplane. Although the airplane had a current annual inspection, dated August 6, 2012, the bi-annual pitot static system test, transponder test, and the GPS databases had all expired, so the flight would be conducted under visual flight rules only. The pilot said all maintenance records, from 2006 to 2012, were missing. He became suspicious when the annual inspection noted that all AD’s (airworthiness directives) had been complied with and were current.

The pilot said that as he conducted his preflight inspection, he noted the oil on the dipstick was at an acceptable level but appeared dirty. The engine would not start due to a low battery. A ground power unit was attached and the engine started. The pilot performed a pre-taxi check, followed by a pre-takeoff check. Both magnetos and alternators were checked. The propeller was cycled five times to verify a rise in manifold pressure, a decrease in oil pressure, and a drop in RPM. All engine instruments checked satisfactory.

The pilot said he had planned to depart KAPA to conduct a systems status check of the airplane. If all systems operated satisfactory he would proceed on a direct route to KPQL at a planned altitude of 17,500 feet. The pilot said that after takeoff and upon reaching 700 feet AGL, turbine inlet temperature never exceeded 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit, manifold pressure remained at 35 inches, and the fuel flow was greater than 32 gallons per hour. The pilot said that as he reached approached 10,000 feet, the engine began a “moderate violent shaking.” He confirmed the mixture was full rich, the propeller was set to climb rpm, and power was set for climb. He then noticed the oil pressure falling rapidly and was in the yellow arc. He then saw oil on the windshield. He declared an emergency and turned back towards KAPA, approximately 26 miles away. The engine then seized. With oil covering the windshield, the pilot side-slipped the airplane and made a forced landing in a hay field. During the landing roll, the nose gear struck a rut and collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop. The left wing rear spar was later found to be damaged.


CREW INFORMATION

The pilot, age 35, held