Accident Details
On April 21, 2014, about 1400 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-30 airplane, N7880Y, sustained substantial damage following an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain during an attempted go-around at the Sun Valley Airport (A20), Bullhead City, Arizona. The certified private pilot, who was the registered owner and sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the repositioning flight, which was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a filed flight plan. The flight had departed Lake Havasu City Airport (LII) about 1345, with A20 as its destination.
Pilot Report
The 82-year-old pilot reported that about 8 days before the accident, while turning onto final approach at LII, the left engine failed, followed by the right engine on short final; both propellers went to feather, and he landed uneventfully. The next day, a local mechanic examined the airplane, and maintenance personnel later said it was "ready to go." The pilot noted that when he started the right engine, it screamed and the prop went back into feather. The pilot left the airplane at the maintenance facility. About a week later, maintenance informed him that after several runs, the engines "check out good."
On the accident day, departing LII about 1345, about 12 minutes into the flight, it became difficult to keep propellers synchronized. Approaching A20, he flew over to check wind direction, then turned downwind for runway 36. While turning final, turbulence became extreme. He added power to stay over the runway but knew he would come down close to the end. During the aborted landing and go-around, he pushed throttles full forward, and "it seemed like the airplane would not fly. It was like being pushed down." He added, "I just know I didn't have any power."
Mechanic Report
An airframe and powerplant mechanic at LII, who worked on the airplane about a week before the accident, reported that initially the right propeller control lever was pulled back into feather. After starting, the engine ran normally; the right fuel selector was between detents. The mechanic noted that the pilot seemed confused about which lever controlled manifold pressure (MAP) and which controlled engine RPM. The pilot mentioned previously owning a Beechcraft Baron, where throttles and propeller levers are opposite to the PA-30. The mechanic stated that conversations with the pilot and his wife revealed confusion. The mechanic later checked and found a right engine magneto drop of about 300 rpm. He removed both magnetos and sent them for repair. After repair, compression, magneto harness, and spark plugs were good; both engines ran from idle to full power with normal operational checks. The left mixture cable was stiff but lubricated; the right mixture rod end was broken and replaced. The mechanic ran the engines at least five times to full power, cycled propellers, and every time both engines operated normally, with oil pressure good and magneto drops within limits.
FAA Inspector Report
A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector reported that during an interview, it was discovered that the pilot had improperly used the propeller controls as throttle controls, with both throttles in the full forward position for the entire flight. The pilot had retarded both propeller controls to full feather upon touchdown, then abruptly advanced them for the go-around. The inspector noted that the left propeller blades were in the feathered position and the right blades in low pitch. The pilot had extensive flight time in a Beechcraft Baron, where propeller and throttle controls are directly opposite to the accident airplane's configuration.
Postaccident examination confirmed flight and engine control continuity, sufficient fuel quantity, and no contaminants in drained fuel. Both engines showed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather
Weather at Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP), about 9 nautical miles north, from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after the accident indicated winds from the southwest at 8 to 12 knots with sustained gusts of 19 knots.