Piper PA-28R 201 F-OHAJ engine failure and ditching near Tahiti Faa'a

Accident overview and immediate circumstances On Sunday, 30 September 2012, at 16:17 local time, a Piper PA-28R 201 registered F-OHAJ, operated by a club, ditched in the sea near the aerodrome of Tahiti Faa'a in French Polynesia. The accident resulted in one injured passenger and the destruction of the aircraft. The pilot and three passengers departed from the aerodrome of Raiatea Uturoa at approximately 15:20, bound for Tahiti Faa'a. After about thirty minutes of flight, the pilot observed a decrease in engine oil pressure. Following the club's emergency checklist for low oil pressure, and noting no increase in oil temperature, the pilot continued the flight while preparing for a possible ditching. ## Approach and engine failure At 16:09, near the aerodrome of Moorea Temae, the oil pressure continued to fall without a rise in oil temperature. The pilot informed approach control of the problem. Although the controller offered an alternative landing at Moorea, the pilot chose to continue toward Tahiti, citing that rescue resources, particularly at sea, were based there. The aircraft was at 3,500 ft when the descent began. Approximately 3.5 nautical miles after overflying Moorea and 5.6 nautical miles from Faa'a, at 1,800 ft, the engine stopped. At 16:16, the pilot informed the Tahiti aerodrome controller that he was ditching and reported his last position. He aligned the aircraft parallel to the swell. After impact and evacuation, the aircraft sank quickly. ## Pre-flight observations and pilot experience The pilot described the flight as a weekend round trip between Tahiti and Raiatea. During the pre-flight inspection for the outbound leg, he added about 0.5 L of oil. Before the return flight, a second pre-flight inspection led to another addition of about 0.5 L of oil. He noted greasy traces under the engine cowling down to the wing roots, which he attributed to an oil overfill before the outbound flight. Engine tests were reported as normal. The pilot had 266 hours of flight experience since 1990, with 1 hour 05 minutes in the preceding three months, all flown within the previous thirty days. ## Procedures and contributing factors The club's published checklist for low oil pressure stated that a pressure drop should be confirmed by an increase in oil temperature; otherwise, it was considered an indication failure. The aircraft's flight manual contained a different emergency procedure for partial or total loss of oil pressure, recommending landing as soon as possible and preparing for a landing without engine power. Given the aircraft's glide ratio and altitude, it was impossible to reach Moorea in a glide. The wreckage was not recovered, and the pilot's and aircraft's documents were on board. ## Conclusion The accident was attributed to the pilot's decision to continue the flight to destination instead of making a precautionary landing at Moorea. This decision was explained by an inadequate assessment of the situation's criticality, due to unfamiliarity with the flight manual's oil pressure loss procedure and the use of an unsuitable checklist that led the pilot to believe it was an indication failure and did not recommend a precautionary landing. The geographic proximity and differences in rescue resources between Moorea Temae and Tahiti Faa'a likely reinforced the pilot's decision to continue. The report noted that personalized checklists should not contradict the manufacturer's flight manual procedures.