Incident Overview
On December 4, 2010, at approximately 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registration N350MM, ditched in the Gulf of Mexico after experiencing a complete loss of engine power. The aircraft was operated by Sidestick LLC. of Wilmington, Delaware, on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed.
Flight Details
The flight originated at 1200 from Cozumel International Airport (MMCZ), Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, with a destination of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (KMSY), New Orleans, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and three passengers were on board and were not injured during the incident.
Sequence of Events
Approximately two hours into the flight, the pilot noticed a distinct change in engine noise and observed erratic engine torque readings. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power. After declaring an emergency, the pilot attempted to identify and resolve the issue by switching fuel tanks, activating the emergency fuel pumps, and checking the ignition, battery, and fuel cutoff positions. Between 15,000 and 20,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), the pilot feathered the propeller and made four unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine.
As the aircraft descended, the pilot provided position reports to air traffic control (ATC) and prepared the passengers for a water landing. The ditching was executed successfully near an oil rig platform, and the pilot and passengers were subsequently rescued by oil rig personnel.
Wreckage and Investigation
The aircraft came to rest in waters approximately 175 miles from KMSY and over 100 miles from land. The water depth at the location was reported to be in excess of 5,000 feet. The wreckage was not recovered, preventing a determination of the cause of the engine power loss.