SCHAGHTICOKE, NY, USA
N400RD
PIPER PA-30K
ABOUT 1 HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE PILOT CONTACTED THE TOWER BY A HAND HELD RADIO AND REPORTED THE SITUATION. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE FLIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ALBANY, NEW YORK, WHERE VMC EXISTED. ON APPROACH INTO ALBANY, ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, BOTH ENGINES LOST TOTAL POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE, THE MAIN AND AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS WERE BREACHED. A FUEL QUANTITY COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THREE QUARTERS OF A GALLON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH THE TIP TANKS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED THAT ALL SWITCHES WERE IN THE OFF POSITION EXCEPT FOR THE FUEL PUMPS AND MAGNETOS SWITCHES. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ALTERNATOR REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 2 FIELD WIRE TO THE TERMINAL WAS BROKEN PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE RIGHT ALTERNATOR WAS FUNCTIONAL. THE BATTERY WAS FOUND DISCHARGED. FOR THIS AIRPLANE, ONE ALTERNATOR PROVIDES SUFFICIENT VOLTAGE BUT MUST BE SELECTED IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
THE LOSS OF TOTAL ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF TOTAL ELECTRICAL POWER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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