Flight Details
On January 21, 2015, at 0754 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-31-350, registration N66906, operated by Key Lime Air as LYM flight 169, experienced a total loss of engine power on both engines during cruise flight. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as a cargo flight on an instrument flight rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado, and was destined for Shalz Field Airport (CBK), Colby, Kansas.
Pilot Narrative
The pilot reported waking at 0330 on January 20 for a prior flight, which ended at 0830. He napped from 1000 to 1200 and reported for his next duty at 1745. Difficulties with a different aircraft (N313RA) caused delays; he returned to Denver at 2222. Dispatch informed him he would need to reposition an aircraft at 0330 the next morning, so he remained awake. He drove to Centennial Airport (APA) and reported feeling very tired but did not use the word 'fatigued.' The ramp supervisor suggested he fly to Denver, drink coffee, and nap after the Colby flight.
Upon arriving at Denver, the pilot noted a deflating nose tire on N66906. After preflight, he discharged a fire extinguisher accidentally. He started engines but found taxi and landing lights inoperative; maintenance could not resolve the issue. He departed after daylight.
During cruise, about 40 minutes into the flight, the pilot felt fatigued. Approximately 25–30 miles from the Goodland VOR, the left boost pump inoperative light illuminated. He turned on the left auxiliary pump, but the left engine failed. He reported the failure to air traffic control (ATC) and turned toward Renner Field (GLD). The right boost pump inoperative light then illuminated; turning on the right auxiliary pump did not prevent the right engine from failing. The pilot did not complete emergency procedures, focusing on reaching the airport. Losing altitude, he advised ATC he would not make it. ATC suggested landing on a road.
At about 2000 feet above ground level (AGL), he located County Road 71. At 1000 feet AGL, he lowered the landing gear. Approaching 300 feet AGL, he saw power lines to the north and tried to avoid them, but the aircraft struck a line. The pilot reported blacking out momentarily; the aircraft came to rest in a field north of the road.
Aircraft Examination
The aircraft came to rest approximately 645 feet east of a power line pole. Wreckage distribution included the left main gear torque links at 50 feet, left main landing gear door at 72 feet, initial left main gear impact at 236 feet, left propeller strike at 267 feet, right propeller strike at 275 feet, nose gear impact at 269 feet, and pieces of power line pole and wires at 420 feet. About 6 feet of power line was wrapped around the left gear trunnion assembly.
Flight control continuity was confirmed for all controls except the left aileron, which was damaged. Engine controls were functional. No fuel was visible in the outboard tanks; the left inboard tank contained about two inches of fuel, and the right inboard tank appeared empty. Cockpit switches and fuel selectors were in the off position. Circuit breakers were in. The left engine throttle was in cutoff and propeller feathered; the right engine throttle and propeller were forward. The gear handle was down.
After recovery, examination of the fuel system revealed no fuel in the left engine lines and about two teaspoons in the right engine strainer inlet. Sumping of the outboard tanks yielded about one quart each. Inboard tanks yielded about 35 gallons each. A very minute amount of water was found in the left inboard tank sump, and very minute dirt/contamination in each sump. The fuel selector valves operated normally.
An FAA inspector noted that the pilot did not attempt to restart either engine, check fuel gauges, or check fuel selector position. The landing gear was extended, flaps were retracted, and both propellers were not feathered.