In-flight engine shutdown. Temporary engine failure at 3500 ft on a piper aztec cargo flight during a diversion to alternate airport account poor WX, 24 mi southeast of FOD, ia.

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Attributes
ACN	575519
Time
Date	200303
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fod.airport
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Fog Snow
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-23-250 Aztec
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 205 flight time total : 1900 flight time type : 270
ASRS Report	575519
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Tried an NDB approach into ebs in 1 mi and 500 ft overcast in snow and fog (no ice). Did not see airport and went missed approach. Got a clearance from center to another destination and proceeded to climb and head for new destination. Right engine failed suddenly. Leveled off, controled airplane, declared emergency and tried to troubleshoot before feathering. Switched tanks, boost pumps on, checked gauges, engine came back to life. I was already on my way to the nearest ILS in FOD. Engine failed again, after doing the same as last time, I also pulled alternate air and continued for the ILS. After a couple mins, the engine came back again. Decided to pull alternate air for other engine too. Uneventful ILS to minimums with both engines after that. Single engine, IMC, you train for but are never prepared for. My troubleshooting should have included alternate air immediately as the conditions were favorable for packing the air scoop with snow.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT ENG SHUTDOWN. TEMPORARY ENG FAILURE AT 3500 FT ON A PIPER AZTEC CARGO FLT DURING A DIVERSION TO ALTERNATE ARPT ACCOUNT POOR WX, 24 MI SE OF FOD, IA.

Narrative: TRIED AN NDB APCH INTO EBS IN 1 MI AND 500 FT OVCST IN SNOW AND FOG (NO ICE). DID NOT SEE ARPT AND WENT MISSED APCH. GOT A CLRNC FROM CTR TO ANOTHER DEST AND PROCEEDED TO CLB AND HEAD FOR NEW DEST. R ENG FAILED SUDDENLY. LEVELED OFF, CTLED AIRPLANE, DECLARED EMER AND TRIED TO TROUBLESHOOT BEFORE FEATHERING. SWITCHED TANKS, BOOST PUMPS ON, CHKED GAUGES, ENG CAME BACK TO LIFE. I WAS ALREADY ON MY WAY TO THE NEAREST ILS IN FOD. ENG FAILED AGAIN, AFTER DOING THE SAME AS LAST TIME, I ALSO PULLED ALTERNATE AIR AND CONTINUED FOR THE ILS. AFTER A COUPLE MINS, THE ENG CAME BACK AGAIN. DECIDED TO PULL ALTERNATE AIR FOR OTHER ENG TOO. UNEVENTFUL ILS TO MINIMUMS WITH BOTH ENGS AFTER THAT. SINGLE ENG, IMC, YOU TRAIN FOR BUT ARE NEVER PREPARED FOR. MY TROUBLESHOOTING SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED ALTERNATE AIR IMMEDIATELY AS THE CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR PACKING THE AIR SCOOP WITH SNOW.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.