Flight History
On 16 December 2009, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, registration M-ALAN, departed Guernsey Airport for Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man. The aircraft was flown by a single pilot who held an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence and had 2,975 hours total flying experience, with 132 hours on type. The pilot donned an immersion suit and life jacket before takeoff and carried a life raft. The main fuel tanks were filled to 28 US gallons each, with an additional 3.5 US gallons in each auxiliary tank, calculated to provide 4 hours endurance. No water contamination was detected in the fuel. After an uneventful start and power checks, the aircraft took off at 1002 hrs, cruising initially at FL100 then descending to FL080 to remain clear of cloud north of Cardiff.
Engine Failures and Ditching
Approximately 38 nm south-east of Ronaldsway, at FL080, the right propeller began overspeeding above 2,800 rpm. The pilot attempted to stabilise it by retarding the throttle and rpm levers but was unsuccessful, then shut down the engine and began a diversion to Blackpool Airport, Lancashire. Six minutes into the diversion, after descending to 4,000 ft to enter visual meteorological conditions (VMC), the left engine lost power with manifold pressure (MP) indicating 17 inches. Cockpit procedures did not restore power. Calculating the aircraft could glide 12 nm and Blackpool was 18 nm away, the pilot decided to ditch near gas rigs, believing rescue personnel would be nearby. She advised air traffic control (ATC) of her intention, then spotted a rig support vessel and ditched near it. She prepared by unlatching the door and placing the life raft and a grab bag on the front seat. At approximately 100 ft, she shut down the left engine, maintained 80 kt until about 10 ft, then pulled back on the control column to touch down tail-first, resulting in a 'belly flop' onto the water. After vacating the aircraft and inflating her life jacket, she climbed onto the wing, retrieved the life raft from the water, inflated it, but found no steps or handholds to board. She held onto straps and was picked up by a rescue boat from the support vessel. Medical examination aboard the vessel found her uninjured; she was later airlifted to Blackpool hospital and released that night.
Wreckage Examination
The wreckage was recovered five months after ditching, heavily contaminated by sea exposure and additional damage from fishing nets and recovery operations. The right engine controls (throttle, propeller, mixture) were found fully forward, likely due to cable movement during engine detachment; magnetos were off, fuel booster pump off, fuel selector near off (misalignment attributed to fuselage floor disruption). The propeller was in start lock latches with pitch measured at 12°, but air charge pressure was below 10 psi (spec: 45-50 psi). The propeller control governor showed no mechanical anomalies; the propeller functioned smoothly through normal pitch range. The left engine controls were fully aft, magnetos on, fuel booster pump off, fuel selector between main and aux (misalignment likely), propeller feathered. The left engine's magnetos and fuel components were in good condition with normal wear; no mechanical defects were found. Alternate air inlet door operated correctly. The main internal components showed normal wear. Fuel recovered: approximately 6.5 US gallons from the right main tank; no other fuel recovered, but left main and auxiliary tank supply lines were fractured.
Weather Conditions
An aftercast for the Morecambe Bay Gas Field indicated a high-pressure area south-east of Iceland and low pressure east of Denmark. At the accident site, cloud was broken to overcast above 2,000 ft with tops at 6,000 ft. Freezing level was approximately 3,000 ft, with a risk of moderate icing within cloud. Temperature was 5–7°C, dew point 3–5°C. Surface wind from approximately 340° at 5–10 kt, locally up to 15 kt. Visibility ranged 14–50 km. Sea surface temperature was about 9°C, sea state slight to moderate, wave height 0.6–1.5 m.
Survival Aids
The pilot had sea survival training from her time in the Royal Navy but had not practised with the type of life raft carried. The life raft was deployed but lacked boarding steps or handholds, making boarding difficult.