What happened
On May 26, 2006, a privately operated Piper PA 46 310 P Malibu, registration F-GOSD, was conducting an IFR flight from Toussus-le-Noble to Fairoaks, England, carrying two pilots. While cruising at FL 180, the pilot noticed a drop in manifold pressure. Despite attempts to stabilize the engine by increasing power and adjusting propeller pitch, the pressure fluctuated and a burning smell entered the cockpit.
In response to the engine malfunction, the pilot declared an emergency and diverted to Abbeville, located approximately 15 nautical miles to the north. During the descent, the pilot extended the landing gear and reduced power. Before reaching FL 100, the oil pressure warning light illuminated, followed by heavy engine vibrations and a complete engine failure.
Navigating via GPS in instrument conditions, the pilot attempted an approach to the airfield. Although the runway became visible at 300 feet, the aircraft's trajectory was too short, leading to an impact in a field approximately 200 meters short of the threshold of runway 20. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the engine and the maintenance history of the powerplant. Investigators examined the engine components to determine the cause of the sudden loss of oil pressure and subsequent seizure.
Records indicated that the engine had undergone significant repairs in March 2000, which included a crankshaft replacement. However, the pilot, who had purchased the aircraft in 2003, had not been informed of these specific 2000 repairs. Since that time, only scheduled maintenance inspections had been documented. At the time of the accident, the engine had operated for approximately 400 hours since the crankshaft replacement.