Pilot of PA31 suffered engine failure at 14000 ft. Landed at mqy.

Attributes
ACN	578391
Time
Date	200303
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 2950 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	578391
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I departed asn (anniston, al) on an IFR flight plan. After leveling off after the climb, we were still in the clouds and asked to climb to 14000 ft for smoother air and to see if we would be on top of the cloud layer. After being at 14000 ft, I climbed to FL180. After being there and not on top, I decided to descend back to 14000 ft. In this descent, the left engine failed. As soon as it failed, I turned on the emergency fuel boost pumps and switched tanks. This did not restart the engine. After stabilizing the airplane and securing it, I tried to restart the engine again and it would not restart. I elected to land at mqy, tn. After investigation of the engine, it has been determined to be a problem in the points in the magneto. The aircraft had approximately 3 hours of fuel left in the tanks at smyrna.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF PA31 SUFFERED ENG FAILURE AT 14000 FT. LANDED AT MQY.

Narrative: I DEPARTED ASN (ANNISTON, AL) ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. AFTER LEVELING OFF AFTER THE CLB, WE WERE STILL IN THE CLOUDS AND ASKED TO CLB TO 14000 FT FOR SMOOTHER AIR AND TO SEE IF WE WOULD BE ON TOP OF THE CLOUD LAYER. AFTER BEING AT 14000 FT, I CLBED TO FL180. AFTER BEING THERE AND NOT ON TOP, I DECIDED TO DSND BACK TO 14000 FT. IN THIS DSCNT, THE L ENG FAILED. AS SOON AS IT FAILED, I TURNED ON THE EMER FUEL BOOST PUMPS AND SWITCHED TANKS. THIS DID NOT RESTART THE ENG. AFTER STABILIZING THE AIRPLANE AND SECURING IT, I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I ELECTED TO LAND AT MQY, TN. AFTER INVESTIGATION OF THE ENG, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A PROB IN THE POINTS IN THE MAGNETO. THE ACFT HAD APPROX 3 HRS OF FUEL LEFT IN THE TANKS AT SMYRNA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.