What happened
During a trans-Pacific ferry mission, an aircraft operating under a special flight permit experienced a critical power loss. The aircraft had been modified for long-range travel, featuring the installation of ferry fuel tanks, enhanced navigation equipment, and long-range communication radios. The flight was operating at an increased gross weight authorized by the permit.
Approximately 85 miles from the departure airfield, the right engine ceased functioning. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. Due to the heavy weight of the aircraft, the single remaining engine could not provide enough thrust to maintain a level altitude. Consequently, the aircraft began a controlled descent. The pilot eventually performed an emergency ditching in the ocean, approximately 28 miles away from the coast.
Findings
Investigations into the aircraft's history revealed that the pilot had previously attempted this specific route twice before. The first prior attempt was aborted due to an oil leak identified in the left engine, while a second attempt was cancelled because of a loose window. Although maintenance personnel had addressed the window issue, there were reports that the oil leak on the left engine might have persisted. Despite these reports, the flight crew informed investigators that the oil leak had been fully resolved prior to the final flight.