Investigation: AO-2008-052 - Partial power loss - VH-ZMK, Darwin aerodrome, NT, 25 July 2008

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On 25 July 2008 at 1033 Central Standard Time a Piper PA-31-350 (Chieftain) aircraft, registered VH-ZMK was being operated on a scheduled passenger flight from Darwin to Bathurst Island, Northern Territory (NT). Moments after takeoff, the right engine began to surge and shortly afterwards, the left engine also began to surge. The pilot declared an emergency and returned to the airfield, landing short of the runway.

The investigation was unable to reconcile the pilot's report that he had selected the inboard tanks before takeoff on the incident flight with the evidence of the fuel remaining in the inboard tanks afterwards. The engine surging and power loss could be explained by fuel starvation resulting from selection of the outboard tanks that contained minimal fuel.

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General details
Date:	25 July 2008	Investigation status:	Completed
Time:	1033 CST	Investigation type:	Occurrence Investigation
Location (show map):	Darwin aerodrome	Occurrence type:	Engine failure or malfunction
State:	Northern Territory	Occurrence class:	Technical
Release date:	14 October 2010	Occurrence category:	Serious Incident
Report status:	Final	Highest injury level:	None

Aircraft details
Aircraft manufacturer:	Piper Aircraft Corp
Aircraft model:	PA-31
Aircraft registration:	VH-ZMK
Serial number:	31-8152142
Type of operation:	Air Transport Low Capacity
Damage to aircraft:	Minor
Departure point:	Darwin NT