Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain crash, Jul 11, 2007, Orl...
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident on July 11, 2007 near Orlando-Intl, Florida, United States with no fatalities. Cause: The mechanic's failure...
- Date: July 11, 2007
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
- Location: Orlando-Intl, Florida, United States
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The mechanic's failure to secure the right engine cowling fasteners after maintenance. The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection was a contributing factor.
A Baer Air Piper Navajo Chieftain on a positioning flight from Melbourne to Orlando lost its right engine cowling in flight after maintenance had left the fasteners unsecured. The pilot shut down the right engine but could not maintain altitude and made a forced landing in scrub brush short of the intended site. The grass ignited about five minutes after the pilot left the aircraft and a brush fire destroyed it.