# NTSB FTW91FA045: Piper PA-60-600, N7488S, Fort Chaffee, AR, March 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 1991, 16:55 local (22:55 UTC)
- Place: Fort Chaffee, AR
- Location: 35.3123° N, 94.3060° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Chaffee, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3123&lon=-94.3060&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23251
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91FA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23251/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA045

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT. FACTORS WERE THE IMPROPER OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINES BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL RESULTING IN OIL LOSS, DETERIORATED ENGINE PERFORMANCE, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

## 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, climb - to cruise
  - 1 engine
  - fluid,oil - loss,partial (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,overhaul,major - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, approach
  - all engines
  - maintenance,overhaul,major - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
- Fire/explosion, other
  - fuel system,tank - ruptured

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE MULTI-ENGINE AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT HIS RIGHT ENGINE WAS LOSING OIL AS HE WAS CLIMBING TO CRUISE ALTITUDE. HE SECURED THE ENGINE, FEATHERED THE PROPELLER, AND MANEUVERED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT TRIMMED THE AIRCRAFT FOR SINGLE ENGINE OPERATION AND EXTENDED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. DURING THE APPROACH, THE OPERATING LEFT ENGINE WOULD NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER AND THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ITS EMERGENCY DESCENT, IMPACTED TREES, AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED THROUGH A DENSELY WOODED AREA. A FUEL TANK RUPTURED DURING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT THROUGH THE TREES AND A FIRE/EXPLOSION OCCURRED. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO BURN AFTER GROUND IMPACT. BOTH ENGINES WERE DISASSEMBLED AND NUMEROUS MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE FOUND. THEY HAD BEEN RECENTLY OVERHAULED. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT SINCE THE ENGINE OVERHAULS. THE PILOT/OWNER WAS EN ROUTE TO SELL THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7488S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7488S-1991-07-19), registration cancelled 1991-07-19, S/N 600045100 (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: 60-0045-100
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-G1B5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lawrence R. Edwards
- Registered owner: Lawrence R. Edwards
- Departed: FSM, FORT SMITH, AR
- Destination: VKS, VICKSBURG, MS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,800 total, 500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 14 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19910301003829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910301003829A), Mar 1, 1991: Piper PA60600, Fort Smith, AR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost right engine on climbout. Tried return. Hit trees. Burned. Engines had recent overhaul were in poor condition.

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.

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