Originally Posted by
hegemon88
If you look up N921GG, another PA46, it is still showing a piston Lyco TIO-540-AE2A, whereas I know for a fact that it had undergone a JetProp conversion to a turboprop. It is now powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A, FAA doesn't seem to update the engine information.
After reading conflicting information in press reports ("Piper Malibu" with a "single turbine engine") I have checked on the JetProp webpage listing all past JetProp conversions and haven't found the accident aircraft registration there. Having said that, a few conversions on their list have the aircraft identification redacted. Having said that in turn, had it been converted to a turboprop, we would have probably seen by now a photo showing the accident aircraft with a changed look. On conversion the engine cowling length increases dramatically, to accommodate for the turbine PT6A engine length.
From all we know and all pictures on the net, some are quite recent, there appears to be no turbine conversion for the aircraft in question.
Doing a conversion and not following the obligation to update the registry is rather a bad indication for the shop putting a PT6 in a PA46 ...
Btw, the increase in cowling length is more due to weight & balance as the turbine is much lighter than the reciprocating engine.