Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Paradise, Texas 76073
Monday, May 20, 1996 13:57 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The multiengine airplane was maneuvering at 4,500 MSL for single engine training when the flight instructor secured and feathered the left engine. After several attempts to restart, the left engine did not restart. Subsequently, the right engine began showing a power loss with a manifold pressure decrease. The pilot reported not being able to keep the landing gear retracted with the hydraulic system hand pump. Following a loss of flight altitude, a forced landing with the gear partially extended was performed to a field with a gravel pit. According to the operator's manual for the airplane, the hydraulic system used to extend the landing gear is driven by the left engine. The hand pump provides a means to extend the landing gear during a hydraulic system failure. The reason for the loss of right engine power and the lack of hydraulic system pressure was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND HYDRAULIC PRESSURE FOR REASONS UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1357
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PARADISE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76073
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID AFW
Elevation of weather observation facility 722
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 725
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 20 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1357
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N299MD
NTSB Number FTW96LA221
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-23-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-150
Aircraft Serial Number 23-1061
Certified Max Gross Weight 3500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN W. WUOTILA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5726 TIOGA ST
Aircraft Owner City DULUTH
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55804
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PRO AIRCRAFT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2290 W. HICKS RD. HANGAR 16-3
Operator City FORT WORTH
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76131
Operator Code ZYFV
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code T67
Departure City FORT WORTH
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --