Piper PA-31-310 Navajo Forced Landing Near Pickle Lake

Incident Overview and Flight History On a visual flight rules flight from Pickle Lake to Kashechewan, Ontario, a privately registered Piper PA-31-310 Navajo (registration C-FWQX, serial number 31-92) experienced a left engine failure. The aircraft, operated by Northern Waterworks Sales and Consulting Inc., carried one pilot and three passengers. The flight had originally departed Red Lake with a scheduled fuel stop in Pickle Lake. Shortly after reaching a planned cruising altitude of 9,500 feet above sea level, the pilot heard a brief rumble from the left engine, accompanied by drops in exhaust and cylinder head temperatures. The pilot reversed course and began a descent. Approximately 15 minutes later, loud bangs and other noises emanated from the left engine, prompting the pilot to shut the engine down using the Engine Securing Procedure described in the Pilot Operating Handbook. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing in a lightly treed, swampy area about 30 nautical miles east of Pickle Lake at 1215 Central Daylight Time. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage without a post-crash fire. The emergency locator transmitter activated on impact.