I Learned About Flying From That

David Flitterman

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A single-engine Piper Malibu JetProp experienced a complete engine failure during an IFR flight over water, leading to the pilot successfully executing an emergency ditching.
Despite a successful ditching, the aircraft's life raft failed to inflate, leaving the occupants in cold water until an airline pilot spotted them and a private helicopter delivered a working life raft.
The rescue was attributed to a "chain of correct actions, altruism and fortunate coincidences," including the pilot's emergency actions, the airline crew's quick response, and the private helicopter's intervention, ultimately leading to the official rescue helicopter finding them.
The incident highlighted the critical importance of ensuring all safety equipment, such as life rafts and jackets, are regularly inspected and current.

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It is a common aviation axiom that every accident is always a result of a succession of errors, rather than due to one single error. Well, I have learned that a successful rescue follows the same rules: It requires a chain of correct actions, altruism and fortunate coincidences.

I departed Madrid (Cuatro Vientos LECU) on the 30th of April at 1615 local time, on a routine IFR flight plan to Palma de Mallorca (LEPA). Estimated flight time was only one hour 20 minutes in our well-equipped PA-46T Piper Malibu JetProp. Planned flight level was FL 250 and all fuel tanks were filled to maximum capacity. Weather conditions were CAVOK throughout the route. My co-owner, David, and I had flown this airplane from the United States six years ago across the freezing Arctic, so this short jaunt with a super-reliable Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 engine was no more than a yawn.