# NTSB ATL88FA052: Piper PA-60-600, N500TS, Mansfield, OH, December 4, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 1987, 21:59 local (Dec 4, 1987, 02:59 UTC) - Place: Mansfield, OH - Coordinates: 40.779167, -82.530914 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7792&lon=-82.5309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 27, 1988 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 7569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7569/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA052 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - 1 engine - failure,total - engine assembly,crankcase - cracked - maintenance,major repair - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - engine assembly,other - fatigue (cause) - engine assembly,cylinder - separation (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - company-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT DEPARTED LOUISVILLE, KY REPORTEDLY WITH A KNOWN OIL LEAK IN THE RIGHT ENGINE AND WAS ON THE SECOND LEG OF AN ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI CARGO FLIGHT. ABOUT 14 MINUTES AFTER ENTERING MANSFIELD APPROACH CONTROL AIRSPACE, THE PILOT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN ALTITUDE CHANGE FROM 5,000 TO 3,000 FT BECAUSE HE 'WAS PICKING UP A LOT OF ICE.' AFTER ENTERING CLEVELAND APPROACH AIRSPACE HE REPORTED THE RIGHT ENGINE HAD FAILED AND REQUESTED TO RETURN TO MANSFIELD. THE PILOT WAS INFORMED OF MANSFIELD WEATHER. HE THEN INDICATED HE WANTED TO TRY CLEVELAND, THEN REPORTED HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND WANTED TO GO TO MANSFIELD. THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING VECTORS FROM MANSFIELD FOR AN ASR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 23 AND AT ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES FROM THE THRESHOLD THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LOWERING THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED IMPROPER WELD REPAIRS TO THE RIGHT ENGINE CASE AND SEPARATION OF THE NUMBER SIX CYLINDER FROM THE CASE DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKING IN THE THROUGH BOLTS AND STUDS. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N500TS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500TS-1990-03-05), registration cancelled 1990-03-05, S/N 600500162 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60-600 - Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-600) (registry code 8360602) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 60500162 - Airframe hours: 5176 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1J5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Air Continental, Inc. - Registered owner: Tri-Star - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 14, 1987, 67 hours before - Departed: LUK, CINCINNATI, OH - Destination: CLE, CLEVELAND, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MFD, Mansfield Lahm Municipal, runway 23, 6,795 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,870 total, 1,170 in this make and model, 6,370 as pilot in command, 337 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 310° at 4 knots - Temperature: 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MFD, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19871203069069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871203069069A), Dec 3, 1987: Piper PA60600, Mansfield, OH, Destroyed. Struck trees and crashed while on asr approach with right engine out. Engine case cracked at welds. Icing on acrft. ## Other investigations on N500TS (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 NYC79DA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79DA054), Jul 11, 1979: Ted Smith TS-600 (N500TS), Atlantic City, NJ, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.