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PA23 pilot; VFR between layers at night and at 10500 feet; experiences attitude indicator failure then complete vacuum system failure resulting in loss of control. After control is regained pilot lands at nearest airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 771377 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200801 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 10500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc tower : rfd.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-23-250 Aztec |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 500 flight time total : 10000 |
| ASRS Report | 771377 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : regained aircraft control |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
We were at 10500 ft in VMC but between 2 layers overcast. We were on a VFR flight following flight plan. Upper overcast level was at FL220 and the lower level was at 4000 ft. While in cruise we lost our attitude indicator; we then experienced a complete vacuum failure. We entered an inadvertent dive losing approximately 6000 ft in 2 mins. The excessive loss of altitude resulted in the loss of our emergency window. It was sucked out at about 6000 ft AGL. We were talking to ARTCC and received vectors to the nearest airport. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the aircraft type was revealed to be a PA23; and there may have been structural damage to the wings but a thorough inspection has not yet been completed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA23 PILOT; VFR BETWEEN LAYERS AT NIGHT AND AT 10500 FEET; EXPERIENCES ATTITUDE INDICATOR FAILURE THEN COMPLETE VACUUM SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. AFTER CONTROL IS REGAINED PILOT LANDS AT NEAREST ARPT.
Narrative: WE WERE AT 10500 FT IN VMC BUT BTWN 2 LAYERS OVCST. WE WERE ON A VFR FLT FOLLOWING FLT PLAN. UPPER OVCST LEVEL WAS AT FL220 AND THE LOWER LEVEL WAS AT 4000 FT. WHILE IN CRUISE WE LOST OUR ATTITUDE INDICATOR; WE THEN EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE VACUUM FAILURE. WE ENTERED AN INADVERTENT DIVE LOSING APPROX 6000 FT IN 2 MINS. THE EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ALT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF OUR EMER WINDOW. IT WAS SUCKED OUT AT ABOUT 6000 FT AGL. WE WERE TALKING TO ARTCC AND RECEIVED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE ACFT TYPE WAS REVEALED TO BE A PA23; AND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS BUT A THOROUGH INSPECTION HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.