# Accident 20180720017439A: Smith AEROSTAR 601, Baton Rouge, LA, July 20, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2018, 14:30 local time
- Place: Baton Rouge, LA
- Airport: Baton Rouge Metropolitan, Ryan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5456° N, 91.1647° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5456&lon=-91.1647&mi=10
- Aircraft: N327BK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N327BK-2021-12-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Smith AEROSTAR 601 (registry code 8360606, https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 (registry code 41788, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-s1a5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SMITH AEROSTAR 601
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 28,829 total, 600 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA285) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180720017439A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2018, N327BK, AN AEROSTAR 601, SN 61-0145-076, WAS MAKING A TEST RUN SHORTLY AFTER MAINTENANCE WAS DONE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PLANE DEPARTED BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT (KBTR) FROM RUNWAY 31 ON ITS FIRST POST-INSPECTION FLIGHT. THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER AND THE PILOT ONBOARD. THE PILOT REALIZED HIS RIGHT ENGINE SHUTDOWN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND DECIDED HE COULD NOT MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRPORT, SO HE LANDED IN A GRASSY AREA IN THE KINDER MORGAN PLANTATION PIPELINE FACILITY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN18LA285](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA285), Jul 20, 2018: Smith AEROSTAR601 (N327BK), Baton Rouge, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of right engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from corrosion debris in the fuel lines. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic’s and pilot’s inadequate maintenance of…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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