What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1998-11-12 involved a Piper PA-23-250 Aztec C-GZOV, operated by Airventures Aviation, at Toronto City Centre Airport, Ontario, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The left engine failed because the fuel was exhausted, leading to a stall during a steep turn while the aircraft was in a high-drag configuration.

Engine failure leads to aircraft ditching in Toronto Harbour

A Piper Aztec experienced engine failure and subsequently stalled into Toronto Harbour during a go-around maneuver, leaving the pilot to be rescued from the water.

What happened

While returning to Toronto City Centre Airport from Centralia, Ontario, the pilot of a PA-23-250 initiated a go-around after realizing the aircraft was too fast and high for a safe landing. During a second attempt to sequence behind a DHC-7, the pilot lowered the landing gear and extended full flaps, reducing speed to 90 knots. Following a suggestion from the tower controller to increase spacing, the pilot began a 360-degree turn. During this left turn, the left engine ceased operation and the propeller stopped rotating.

Noting a loss of airspeed and a descending flight path, the pilot maintained full power on the remaining engine and decided to ditch the aircraft. At approximately 1254 EST, the aircraft struck the water in Toronto Harbour. The pilot, who was uninjured, managed to exit the aircraft before it sank and was subsequently rescued by the Toronto Police Marine Unit.

The investigation

The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical state, the pilot's experience, and the fuel levels. The pilot was fully qualified for the flight, and the aircraft was found to be maintained according to regulations. Investigators found that while the outboard tanks were full, the inboard tanks were only partially filled. On the return leg, the pilot had selected the inboard tanks for fuel.

Upon examining the wreckage, investigators found no mechanical discrepancies with the engines or flight controls prior to the impact. However, they discovered that the left wing tip fuel tank had separated upon impact and contained only water. The right side fuel system remained intact, and the right outboard tank still contained a significant amount of fuel.

Findings

The left engine failed due to fuel exhaustion.
The aircraft entered a stall during the steep left turn following the engine failure, with insufficient altitude available for recovery.
The loss of the left engine caused the loss of the hydraulic pump, preventing the pilot from retracting the landing gear and flaps, which contributed to the rapid loss of airspeed.
The pilot's use of shoulder and lap restraints likely aided the survivability of the impact.
A lack of direct VHF radio communication between the rescue vessels and the aircraft circling overhead was noted, though it did not impede the rescue due to the presence of land-based witnesses.

Safety action

Following the incident, the Toronto Police Marine Unit updated its aviation VHF radio equipment and implemented a policy to ensure radios are on board rescue vessels. A common map grid system was also established between the Marine Unit and the Toronto City Centre control tower to improve the location of persons in the water. Additionally, Transport Canada has updated flight test standards to include recovery from advanced stalls and is emphasizing stall awareness in low-altitude scenarios.