Accident Overview
On March 5, 2020, at approximately 1422 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-23-250 (registration N335W) was substantially damaged during an accident near Stanley County Airport (VUJ) in Albemarle, North Carolina. The airplane was engaged in a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Both the airline transport pilot serving as pilot-in-command (PIC) and the pilot receiving instruction were uninjured.
Flight Circumstances
The owner of the airplane was not onboard during the flight but was recording video of the takeoff. The owner did not hold a multiengine land rating. The owner's flight instructor was seated in the left seat and was receiving a checkout in the make and model from the PIC, who was seated in the right seat. After the checkout, the owner's flight instructor could then provide training to the owner. The accident flight was the first flight following an annual inspection, and the airplane had been fully fueled before departure.
Sequence of Events
According to the PIC, during the initial climb at about 200 feet above ground level, the pilot receiving instruction (the pilot flying) noted a decrease in airspeed and reported that the engines were losing power. The PIC immediately confirmed that the mixture levers were full rich and the propeller and manifold levers were full forward. He also switched on the electric fuel pumps, which had not been activated before takeoff. The PIC stated that the electric fuel pump switches were located on the far left of the instrument panel and that he was unable to see their position prior to the loss of engine power. He believed that this oversight caused the dual loss of engine power.
The PIC then instructed the pilot receiving instruction to lower the nose to maintain airspeed. However, the airplane was traveling too fast to land on the remaining runway. The engines never fully recovered, and the aircraft climbed over trees at the end of the runway before making a hard landing in a muddy field.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane slid approximately 190 feet after impacting the field. The left main landing gear separated, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane rotated 180 degrees before coming to rest upright. Damage was observed to the left wing spar, left wheel well, nose wheel well, and lower fuselage.
Review of the video corroborated the pilots' statements. An independent mechanic examined the engines. The top spark plugs from both engines were removed and showed no anomalies on their electrodes. The crankshaft could be rotated by hand on both engines, and valve train continuity to the rear accessory section was confirmed. Thumb compression was attained on all cylinders. The induction systems revealed no blockages or obstructions. Fuel samples from each of the four fuel cells and both engine fuel sumps were blue in color with no water or debris detected. Magnetos from both engines were tested at 420 rpm for 10 seconds; all four produced spark at all leads. The left and right engine mechanical fuel pumps were removed and tested satisfactorily within specifications.
Operational Notes
Review of checklists from the owner's manual and airplane flight manual for the make and model indicated that electric fuel pumps should be turned on prior to takeoff.