Ditching involving a Piper Aircraft Corp PA-32R-300, VH-RCB, 8km E Bermagui, NSW on 30 December 1994

The pilot reported that he was operating at 500 feet above the sea taking photographs of a friend's boat. He experienced a sudden onset of severe engine vibration. Because of the severity of the vibration he believed that the engine may break its mounts. He shut the engine down immediately and ditched close to his friend's boat. He was rescued from the wing of the aircraft which sank shortly afterwards in approximately 60 fathoms of water. The cause of the engine vibration was not determined but the pilot said the severity of the vibration was what he imagined would be consistent with the loss of part or all of a propeller blade.