PA31 pilot experiences a right engine failure in cruise and diverts to a suitable airport. Dual drive bendix magneto; installed 20 minutes earlier; failed causing complete power loss.

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Attributes
ACN	1109537
Time
Date	201308
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Magneto/Distributor
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 4300 Flight Crew Type 700
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

Lost right engine and diverted. Uneventful landing. Dual drive bendix magneto failed causing complete power loss. The mag was a fresh overhaul installed 20 minutes earlier. It was determined to be a faulty ground within the mag case itself causing both primary coils to fail. Poor design in my opinion!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 pilot experiences a right engine failure in cruise and diverts to a suitable airport. Dual drive Bendix Magneto; installed 20 minutes earlier; failed causing complete power loss.

Narrative: Lost right engine and diverted. Uneventful landing. Dual drive Bendix Magneto failed causing complete power loss. The mag was a fresh overhaul installed 20 minutes earlier. It was determined to be a faulty ground within the mag case itself causing both primary coils to fail. Poor design in my opinion!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.