Accident Overview
On September 16, 2021, at 1825 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, Cherokee Six, N33022, was substantially damaged during an accident near Orcas Island, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the two passengers, one of whom was the airplane owner, were seriously injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Sequence of Events
The flight originated from Bellingham International Airport (BLI) in Bellingham, Washington. The pilot intended to fly over business project sites on Orcas Island with the airplane owner, then stop at Friday Harbor Airport (FHR) in Friday Harbor, Washington, to pick up a company employee and return to BLI.
During climbout from Orcas Island, the pilot and owner observed an oily substance on the windscreen and decided to land immediately at FHR. After landing, oil was found on the cowling and around the propeller hub.
Two mechanics hired by the owner inspected the airplane. They reported no oil on the upper engine cowling and verified the engine contained 10 quarts of oil, as reported by the pilot at the start of the flight. Oil residue was found at the front of the engine near the crankshaft seal area. The area was cleaned, the engine was started, and the propeller was cycled with no oil leaks detected.
Second Departure and Power Loss
Following the inspection, the pilot departed FHR with a planned destination of BLI. During climbout, the pilot observed oil pressure in the yellow range and leveled off at 2,000 feet mean sea level. The pilot reduced engine power and set the propeller RPM between 2,200 and 2,300, verifying all engine parameters and readings were in the green range. Shortly thereafter, the engine hesitated and then lost all power. The pilot configured the airplane for best glide speed, activated the electric fuel pump, and switched the fuel selector from the left to the right main fuel tank.
As the airplane descended, the engine suddenly restarted but then lost power again. The owner reported hearing the stall warning horn when the airplane was about 80 feet above the ground. The airplane landed hard on a grass field, bounced, and came to rest upright.
Damage and Fuel Recovery
The fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. According to the recovery company, the left- and right-wing main fuel tanks were not breached; about 18 ounces of fuel were recovered from the left main tank and 15 gallons from the right main tank. The left- and right-wing tip tanks were compromised.
Engine Monitoring Data
Data from a panel-mounted engine monitoring instrument showed that around the time of the accident (1823:45), the fuel flow decreased from about 17 gallons per hour to zero within 3 to 5 seconds. A spike in all six exhaust gas temperatures was observed immediately after the fuel flow began to decrease, followed by a gradual decrease along with the fuel flow.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.