It might be appropriate to point out the certification requirement of a normal catergory aircraft.
The PA-31 is a normal category aircraft and is certificated as such, it is only required to demonstrate that it can maintain 5000ft in the standard atmosphere in the optimum climb performance configuration with one engine inoperative, at the time of certification of a new aircraft. it does not follow that it will remain so for the duration of the aircrafts life (read ageing aircraft).
The manufacturer may well provide performance data that suggests the aircraft will perform better than that and that's all well and good, however it is not required to be demonstrated and may well be theoretical expectations.
Engine out performance data is not guaranteed.
Having said that purely for academic purposes, I concede that with all other factors being normal, it should have been a doddle from that altitude over that distance.
Last edited by Xeptu; 22nd Jun 2010 at 02:07.