# NTSB CHI08LA180: Smith Aerostar 601P, N601TS, Alexandria, MN, July 2, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2008, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Alexandria, MN - Coordinates: 45.870384, -95.370979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8704&lon=-95.3710&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68658 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68658/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA180 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8360608), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on the previous flight the left engine surged at 14,700 feet and the flight could not be conducted at the planned altitude of 19,000 feet. He stated that during descent to land the engines performed normally at lower altitudes. After landing he talked with a mechanic on the telephone and a decision was made to conduct the next leg of the trip at a lower altitude. During the takeoff, a loss of power was experienced and the pilot attempted to return to the airport. During the turn back to the airport, the airplane lost altitude and the pilot decided to turn away from the populated areas and land the airplane in a field. During the landing the airplane struck a ditch. An examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident did not reveal any defects that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2008, about 0700 central daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N601TS, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff from the Chandler Field Airport, Alexandria, Minnesota. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions on an instrument flight rules flight plan. There were no injuries reported to the pilot or three passengers. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and Saint Louis, Missouri, was the intended destination. The pilot reported that on the previous flight the left engine experienced surging at 14,700 feet and the flight could not be conducted at the expected altitude of 19,000 feet. He stated that during descent the engines performed normally at lower altitudes. After landing, he talked with a mechanic on the telephone and a decision was made to conduct the next leg of the trip at a lower altitude. He stated that during the takeoff, as he rotated, he noticed that the airplane's performance was less than usual. He determined that insufficient runway remained to abort the takeoff and he elected to continue and return to the airport. He stated that he was unable to determine which engine was the reason for the power loss. He stated that he was unable to climb higher than 150 feet above the ground or to accelerate beyond 110 miles per hour. The pilot reported that while attempting to turn back to the airport he lost speed and decided to turn the airplane away from the populated areas and land in a field that was southeast of the airport. He reported that he touched down on level terrain, but the airplane subsequently struck a drainage ditch during the landing. Both engines were Lycoming model IO-540-S1A5 engines and each had 4,316.5 hours total time in service. The most recent overhaul of the engines was performed on July 1, 1994, and each engine had accumulated 458 hours since that overhaul. The airplane was examined subsequent to the accident. Both engines were rotated by hand and "thumb" compression was evident. Fuel was found in the fuel lines leading to the fuel servos and to the fuel manifolds. Fuel was found within the airplane's fuel tanks. Magneto timing was checked and was found to be within specifications. Examination did not reveal any defects that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601TS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N601TS-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N 61P-0194-014, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SMITH Aerostar 601P - Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61P-0194-014 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2007 - Departed: AXN, Alexandria, MN - Destination: IH0, ST LOUIS, MO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AXN, Chandler Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 8,600 total, 32 in this make and model, 8,200 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 12 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AXN, 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 20080702841789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080702841789A), Jul 2, 2008: Tedsmi AEROSTAR601P, Alexandria, MN, Destroyed. (-23) On 07/02/2008, at approximately 0700 CST, a general aviation accident occurred one mile NE of Alexandria, MN 9AXN) airport. The aircraft, a Piper… 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.