History of Flight
On November 18, 2016, about 1920 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-31T "Cheyenne II" airplane, registration N779MF, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during initial climb from Elko Regional Airport (EKO), Elko, Nevada. The airplane was operating as an instrument flight rules (IFR) air transport medical flight by American Med Flight, Inc. (AMF) under 14 CFR Part 135. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed but not activated for the intended flight to Salt Lake City, Utah.
A witness at the airport reported that the airplane departed runway 05. During the initial climb, the airplane made a left turn of about 30° from the runway heading, then stopped climbing, made an abrupt left bank, and descended out of his line of sight. The airplane impacted a parking lot and erupted into flames. There were no radio calls from the pilot, and no radar data were available for the flight.
Personnel Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine and multi-engine land airplanes and a type rating for a CE-500. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued in April 2016 with the limitation that he "must wear corrective lenses." On his most recent medical certificate application, he reported total flight experience of 7,050 hours. The pilot's personal flight records were not recovered. According to AMF records, his last two duty periods were from November 1 to 7, 2016, and from November 15 to the accident, during which he flew 6.3 hours, including 1.8 hours for AMF under Part 135. His most recent annual airman competency/proficiency check was on April 5, 2016, with satisfactory results.
Aircraft Information
The airplane, serial number 31T-7920093, was manufactured in 1979 and had been modified with a Lifeport Patient supplemental type certificate for medical transport installed in August 2014. It was equipped with two Pratt and Whitney PT6A-28 engines and two Hartzell HC-B3TN-3B/T10178B-10Q propellers installed November 2011. The load manifest showed a calculated takeoff weight of 8,693 pounds and center of gravity of 134.74 inches, both within limits. The most recent inspection was an "Event 1" inspection completed September 16, 2016, at 6,614.1 hours total airframe time. During that inspection, the bleed valve was replaced in response to a pilot report that the left engine was lagging. No uncorrected discrepancies were recorded.
Prior maintenance issues included a report on October 10, 2016, of an oil leak on the left engine, which led to replacement of a fuel pump seal and fuel control unit. On November 4, 2016, a pilot reported the left engine not producing full power, leading to replacement of the bleed valve. The last maintenance, on November 15, 2016, again replaced the left engine bleed valve because the engine was "low on torque."
Meteorological Information
At 1856, the weather at EKO reported wind from 110° at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 33°F, dew point 19°F, and altimeter setting 30.11 inches of mercury. Sunset was at 1622, end of civil twilight at 1652. The moon was waning gibbous with 76% illumination.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was in a parking lot about 5,300 ft from the airport on a heading of 39°. Debris was scattered over about 450 ft among parked cars. The main wreckage came to rest on a heading of about 305°. A postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage. The landing gear and flaps were retracted. The left wing and engine separated; the right wing was found adjacent to the fuselage. The empennage was in place, control cables were continuous. The left engine showed thermal damage but no catastrophic failure evidence; the right engine showed torsional separation of the propeller. The right propeller exhibited more rotational damage than the left, consistent with the left engine not producing power or being at low power at impact.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on the pilot determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicological screenings were negative for ethanol and drugs; carbon monoxide testing was not conducted due to lack of blood.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source.