Accident Overview
The pilot of a twin-engine airplane performed a ditching in the Pacific Ocean after experiencing a loss of engine power and an in-flight engine fire during cruise. The aircraft was operating at 1,000 feet msl when the pilot noticed a loss of power in the right engine. Simultaneously, passengers observed flames emanating from the right engine cowling. The pilot shut down the right engine and feathered its propeller. He initially attempted to reach a nearby airport but, realizing the airplane could not maintain altitude, opted to ditch in the ocean.
Ditching and Rescue
Prior to the forced landing, the pilot instructed passengers to don life jackets and assume the crash position. After the aircraft touched down on the water, all but one passenger exited through the main cabin door and the pilot door. The remaining passenger, reportedly frightened and unable to swim, remained in his seat with the seat belt secured and his life vest inflated. A survivor noted his condition. The pilot and passengers were subsequently rescued from the ocean by a helicopter and a boat.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the aircraft after recovery revealed that the right engine's oil converter plate gasket had deteriorated and extruded from behind the converter plate. This allowed oil to spray into the accessory section, resulting in an engine fire. The engine manufacturer had previously issued a mandatory service bulletin (MSB) requiring inspection of the gasket every 50 hours for evidence of gasket extrusion around the cover plate or oil leakage. Maintenance records indicated that the inspection had been performed 18.3 hours before the accident. At the time of the incident, the right engine had accumulated 386.8 hours since its last overhaul and gasket replacement.
Maintenance and Service Bulletins
The MSB was issued one month prior to the accident after the manufacturer received reports of certain oil filter converter plate gaskets extruding around the plate. Tests conducted on exemplar gaskets submerged in engine oil heated to 245 degrees Fahrenheit showed that after approximately 290 hours, the gasket material exhibited deterioration similar to that seen on the accident gasket. An investigation revealed that the engine manufacturer had recently changed gasket suppliers, leading to a shipment of gaskets that did not meet specifications. In response, the manufacturer revised the MSB to require replacement of the gasket every 50 hours. The Federal Aviation Administration subsequently issued an airworthiness directive mandating the same replacement interval.