PA27 pilot loses left engine and descends into IMC.

Attributes
ACN	678113
Time
Date	200511
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 10500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-23-250 Aztec
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 0 flight time total : 1980 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	678113
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : diverted to another airport
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Climbed above clouds en route. Was in level flight 10500 ft on course when I noticed a slight abnormal vibration. Something felt wrong so I decided to return to departure airport to have it looked at. About 5 mins later; the aircraft started slowing down while I maintained altitude. I had flight following with ZZZ approach. I radioed that I had a problem. While maintaining 120 mph and going to full power; I started descending. I pulled the left throttle to idle and there was no effect. I checked the right engine and it appeared to be producing power; but not enough to maintain altitude. I informed ZZZ approach that I lost the left engine and was entering IMC. Approach told me that the closest airport was behind me and asked me what I wanted to do. I elected to go to ZZZ because I had previously flown over there and the ceiling was higher. I knew that the ceiling was lower to the north. I wanted to have as much time as possible to set up for the approach in VFR conditions. Additionally; the closest airport was behind me and would have required a 180 degree turn in IMC; single engine. ZZZ airport was close enough that I could have glided there with both engines out. I arrived over ZZZ airport at 4000 ft AGL; did a 360 degree right turn while pumping the gear down and made an uneventful landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA27 PLT LOSES L ENG AND DSNDS INTO IMC.

Narrative: CLBED ABOVE CLOUDS ENRTE. WAS IN LEVEL FLT 10500 FT ON COURSE WHEN I NOTICED A SLIGHT ABNORMAL VIBRATION. SOMETHING FELT WRONG SO I DECIDED TO RETURN TO DEP ARPT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. ABOUT 5 MINS LATER; THE ACFT STARTED SLOWING DOWN WHILE I MAINTAINED ALT. I HAD FLT FOLLOWING WITH ZZZ APCH. I RADIOED THAT I HAD A PROB. WHILE MAINTAINING 120 MPH AND GOING TO FULL PWR; I STARTED DSNDING. I PULLED THE L THROTTLE TO IDLE AND THERE WAS NO EFFECT. I CHKED THE R ENG AND IT APPEARED TO BE PRODUCING PWR; BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN ALT. I INFORMED ZZZ APCH THAT I LOST THE L ENG AND WAS ENTERING IMC. APCH TOLD ME THAT THE CLOSEST ARPT WAS BEHIND ME AND ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED TO DO. I ELECTED TO GO TO ZZZ BECAUSE I HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN OVER THERE AND THE CEILING WAS HIGHER. I KNEW THAT THE CEILING WAS LOWER TO THE N. I WANTED TO HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO SET UP FOR THE APCH IN VFR CONDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY; THE CLOSEST ARPT WAS BEHIND ME AND WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A 180 DEG TURN IN IMC; SINGLE ENG. ZZZ ARPT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I COULD HAVE GLIDED THERE WITH BOTH ENGS OUT. I ARRIVED OVER ZZZ ARPT AT 4000 FT AGL; DID A 360 DEG R TURN WHILE PUMPING THE GEAR DOWN AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.