Final Report: Serious Incident involving a Piper PA34-220T (Seneca III), Registration G-OBUC, near Co. Wicklow, Ireland, on 17 December 2021. Report 2024-010

leon.Quirke@aaiu.ie

The twin-engine PA34-220T aircraft was enroute from Bournemouth Airport (EGHH), in the United Kingdom to Weston Airport (EIWT), near Dublin, Ireland. While over the Irish Sea at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet and approximately three nautical miles east of the County Wicklow coast, the Pilot reported to Dublin Air Traffic Area Control Centre (ACC) that the aircraft had a ‘rough running engine’ and requested an expedited arrival into EIWT. Two minutes later, the Pilot transmitted a MAYDAY call (state of emergency) to Dublin ACC, advising that the aircraft was now operating on one engine. He was offered potential diversionary airfields but elected to continue to EIWT, where a single engine approach to Runway (RWY) 25 was conducted. The aircraft landed on RWY 25 and taxied to the apron, where the Pilot and the three passengers who were on board exited normally. No injuries were reported to the Investigation. There was no fire.
When the AAIU inspected the aircraft following the occurrence, it was observed that the No. 3 cylinder had separated from the crankcase of the right-hand engine, and that there was associated damage to the crankcase and ancillary components. The AAIU subsequently determined that the probable cause of the separation was the fatigue failure of seven of the eight cylinder retention studs/throughbolts.

Occurrence Date: December 17, 2021
Report Date: October 31, 2024
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