Event LAX96LA147

Factual narrative

On March 29, 1996, at 1001 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA23-250, N14260, collided with the ground short of the runway at Torrance, California, while attempting a power-off forced landing. The forced landing was precipitated a complete loss of power in one engine during cruise, and the loss of the second engine while inbound to the airport. The aircraft was newly purchased by the left seat pilot and was engaged in a familiarization flight with a flight instructor. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area instructional flight. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Neither the commercial pilot under training nor the flight instructor were injured. The flight originated at the Torrance airport on the day of the accident at 0930. According to statements from the pilots, information supplied by an FAA inspector from the Long Beach Flight Standards District Office who responded to the site, and review of the maintenance records, the aircraft was completely inactive since the first months of 1989. The pilot purchased the aircraft and had an annual inspection performed, which was completed the day before. This was the first flight following the inspection. After takeoff, the pilot and instructor flew toward the local practice area. One engine began to run rough and lose power. The aircraft was turned back toward the airport, and as the aircraft entered the traffic pattern, the second engine quit completely. On short final the first engine, which had been running rough, quit completely. The aircraft did not have sufficient altitude to make the runway and hit the ground short of the pavement inside the airport boundary fence. The aircraft maintenance records were reviewed. The last entry in the records prior to 1996 was dated August 15, 1988. A February 22, 1996, entry during workup for the annual inspection lists, among other things, that new fuel lines were installed and both fuel system gascolators were cleaned and inspected. The March 27, 1996, entry recording the annual inspection sign off notes "All fuel and oil lines checked, all accessories inspected." Copies of the maintenance records are appended to this report. The aircraft was inspected on April 12, 1996, by FAA airworthiness inspectors, with assistance provided by technical representatives from Piper Aircraft Corporation. According to the report of the examination, clean blue colored fuel was found in all tanks. Both left and right gascolator bowls and their associated screens were examined. The bowls exhibited a "considerable amount of rust colored deposits" with water noted in the left bowl. Both fuel gascolator screens were dark in appearance with water corrosion and contamination noted. Dark colored contamination was found on the inside of both the left and right fuel servo inlet screens. The magnetos from both engines were examined. The shaft of the left engine's left magneto had a "considerable amount of wobble" and the drive coupling was cracked. The right engine's left magneto did not produce a spark at any lead when tested. Oil and water contamination was found inside the right engine's right magneto housing. The aircraft (acft) had been inactive in outside storage since early 1989. The pilot purchased the acft & had an annual inspection performed, which was completed on 3/28/96. On 3/29/96, he & a flight instructor (CFI) took off on the 1st flight after the inspection. One engine began to run rough & lose power. The pilots turned back toward the airport, but before they reached the runway (rwy), the 2nd engine quit running. On short final, the 1st engine, which had been running rough, also quit running. There was insufficient altitude to reach the rwy; during touchdown short of the rwy, the acft was damaged. Maintenance records stated that during the annual inspection, new fuel lines were installed & both gascolators were cleaned & inspected. The recorded entry of annual inspection noted 'All fuel and oil lines checked, all accessories inspected.' During a postaccident inspection, rust colored deposits were found in both gascolators, & water was noted in the left gascolator bowl. Both gascolator screens were dark in appearance with water corrosion. Dark colored contamination was found in the left & right fuel servo inlet screens. The shaft of the left engine's left magneto had a wobble, & its drive coupling was cracked. The right engine's left magneto did not produce a spark, when tested. Also, contamination (oil & corrosion) were found inside the right engine's right magneto housing. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12