Engine power loss during takeoff leads to emergency return to land

Casualties unknown • Wichita Falls, TX, US

A pilot was forced to return to the airport for an emergency landing after experiencing a loss of power in the right engine immediately following takeoff.

What happened

Immediately after takeoff, the pilot notified the tower that a return to the airport was necessary because the right engine had lost power. Witnesses observing the aircraft noted that as soon as it became airborne, the airplane exhibited a pronounced right yaw and an out-of-trim attitude.

The investigation

An examination of the wreckage determined that the rudder trim was set to the 50% nose right position. The investigation also noted that the pilot had performed a precautionary landing at the same airport the previous night following a reported partial power loss in the left engine. At that time, maintenance personnel had identified and repaired the cause of the left engine's power loss. During those repairs, the pilot expressed concerns to mechanics regarding the reliability of both engines, noting they were both beyond their Time Between Overhaul (TBO). A subsequent teardown and examination of both engines and the turbochargers found no mechanical anomalies that would have interfered with normal engine operation.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1996-01-13 Piper PA-34-200T accident near Wichita Falls, TX?

A pilot was forced to return to the airport for an emergency landing after experiencing a loss of power in the right engine immediately following takeoff.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1996-01-13 involved a Piper PA-34-200T, registration N8894E, at Wichita Falls, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The inadvertent stall by the pilot in command. Factors were the impeded airplane takeoff performance, the rudder trim not corrected by the pilot, and the pilot's failure to comply with the checklist.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05123. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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