Engine power loss - 15 km south-east of Gold Coast Airport, Queensland, on 4 February 2007, VH-DIC, Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche

On 4 February 2007, the owner-pilot of a Piper Aircraft Co. PA-30 Twin Comanche aircraft, registered VH-DIC, was conducting a private flight from Gold Coast Airport, Qld. The pilot was the sole occupant. Approximately 11 minutes into the flight, at 1622 Eastern Standard Time, the pilot declared an emergency reporting an engine failure and some 15 seconds later that he was also experiencing problems with the 'left engine'. Approximately 13 minutes after departure, the aircraft impacted the water about 100 m off Kingscliff beach, adjacent to the suburb of Casuarina, NSW. The pilot received fatal injuries.

Two days following the accident, the aircraft wreckage including most of the lower centre fuselage, wings, and both engines and propellers, was recovered and examined. The right propeller was recovered with the blades in the feathered position. The left propeller was recovered with the blades in the normal operating range with bending consistent with power being applied at the time of the impact with the sea.

The investigation determined that most probably the right engine stopped operating, followed by an unexplained power loss of the left engine. The aircraft airspeed then decreased below the minimum controllable airspeed during the emergency landing before power suddenly returned to the left engine causing the aircraft to pitch nose up and bank sharply to the right and impacting the water.