PA46, en-route, southwest of Narsarsuaq, Greenland, 2024

PA46, en-route, southwest of Narsarsuaq, Greenland, 2024

Summary

On 29 July 2024, a Piper PA46 Malibu making an eastbound transatlantic flight via Narsarsuaq was descending southwest of the airport when the engine failed. A successful ditching occurred, and the two occupants evacuated into a life raft. Rescue occurred without significant delay due to the fortuitous presence of military airborne and marine assets in the vicinity. The cause of the engine failure could not be determined but there was no evidence that it could have been foreseen prior to flight. Proper continuing airworthiness-related actions had been taken ahead of the flight departure.

Description

On 29 July 2024, a Piper PA46-310P Malibu (D-EOSE) flown by the two joint owners on a private flight from Goose Bay to Narsarsuaq was descending through FL160 over open water when the cabin altitude suddenly began to increase and engine low oil pressure was indicated. A PAN was declared and soon afterwards, a serious engine malfunction became apparent and a MAYDAY was declared. Both occupants were fully prepared for a potential ditching and, after passing through an overcast layer, emerged at 700 feet asl in day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and the aircraft was successfully ditched. Following the occupants’ evacuation to their life raft, they were subsequently picked up by a rescue team. The aircraft remained afloat for approximately two hours.

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