20161020020249A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Smith Aerostar 601P · Carrollton, GA · October 20, 2016

Date: October 20, 2016 · 11:02 local
Place: Carrollton, GA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N601UK
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA17CA032
Reported as: Smith Aerostar 601P
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,390 total36 in this make and model22 in the last 90 days

N601UKRegistration cancelled Feb 3, 2020 · Smith AEROSTAR 601PS/N 61P-0183-012 · Built 1974 Airframe modelSmith AEROSTAR 601P Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot stated he departed khmp destin for kctj to fuel airplane. Pilot stated he checked fuel prior to leaving khmp. Aircraft fuel totalizer showed 50 gallons, he stated he did not visually check fuel tanks. Pilot stated about 8NM (google earth shows 6.1MILES)from kctj engines began to surge and fuel flow went to 0, both engines lost power within about 30 seconds. Pilot landed aircraft in the median of hwy 166 in Carrollton Georgia causing substantial damage to the airplane.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATED HE DEPARTED KHMP DESTIN FOR KCTJ TO FUEL AIRPLANE. PILOT STATED HE CHECKED FUEL PRIOR TO LEAVING KHMP. AIRCRAFT FUEL TOTALIZER SHOWED 50 GALLONS, HE STATED HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK FUEL TANKS. PILOT STATED ABOUT 8NM (GOOGLE EARTH SHOWS 6.1MILES)FROM KCTJ ENGINES BEGAN TO SURGE AND FUEL FLOW WENT TO 0, BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER WITHIN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. PILOT LANDED AIRCRAFT IN THE MEDIAN OF HWY 166 IN CARROLLTON GEORGIA CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB GAA17CA032Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCarrollton, GAThe pilot's failure to verify the usable fuel in the fuel tanks, which resulted in an inaccurate fuel totalizer setting during preflight, fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power.Oct 20, 2016 · Substantial damage