By the fall of 1978 I’d worked for Piper Aircraft in Lakeland, Florida, for three years. I was the assistant chief engineer-technical, which meant I had the people in the structures, aerodynamics, power plants, systems, electrical/avionics and flight-test groups all working for me. At the time, we were working extremely hard to certify the new Piper Cheyenne III. I was, however, also responsible for support of the twin-engine Navajo Chieftain assembled at Lakeland.
ILAFFT: When Paying Attention Pays Off
Key Takeaways:
- During a routine single-engine test flight in a Piper Navajo Chieftain, the crew encountered a critical situation when the operating engine's alternator failed, leaving them with one feathered engine and a dead battery, implying a no-radio, single-engine landing.
- Recalling a technical discussion about propeller feathering characteristics, the pilot devised and successfully executed an air-start of the feathered engine by performing a controlled dive to achieve the necessary airspeed.
- This maneuver allowed them to restart the engine, regain electrical power, and perform a normal, two-engine landing, avoiding a high-risk, no-radio, single-engine approach at an uncontrolled airport.
- The incident underscored the value of expert knowledge and led to design improvements for critical warning light placement in future aircraft like the Cheyenne III.
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