# NTSB MIA96LA149: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 601P, N441CB, Orlando, FL, May 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1996, 10:28 local (14:28 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.540981, -81.370574 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5410&lon=-81.3706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38025/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA149 ## Probable cause loss of power in both engines for undetermined reason(s). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - 2 engines - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Wheels up landing, emergency landing after takeoff - gear extension - not attained, pilot in command ## Analysis During takeoff, the pilot retracted the landing gear, then a 'power loss' occurred at an altitude of about 150 feet AGL, followed by a 'rapid speed loss to Vmc...84 Knots.' The airplane was still over the runway, and the pilot elected to land straight ahead. After evacuating the airplane, he noted that the landing gear was in an intermediate position, and the right tire had blown out. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that both engines lost power just after takeoff. He stated that the left engine lost power first with its manifold pressure dropping from 40' hg to 25' hg, then the right engine had a 'partial loss of power.' Both engines were operationally checked, but no discrepancies were found with either engine during the test runs. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 1996, about 1028 eastern daylight time, a Piper-Smith PA-60-601P, N441CB, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, business flight, en route to Greenville, South Carolina, then to Michigan, crashed in the vicinity of Orlando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. According to the pilot's statement, after being cleared for takeoff on runway 18R, he started the takeoff roll, rotated the airplane at 100 knots, and retracted the landing gear. He stated there was a "power loss" at an altitude of about 250 feet mean sea level, then a "rapid speed loss to Vmc...84 Knots." The flight was still over the runway, when the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. He pushed the nose forward and landed straight ahead on the runway. After evacuating the airplane, the pilot noted that the landing gear had not fully retracted, and the right tire had blown. The FAA interviewed the pilot, and he stated to them, "...that he had experienced a power loss in both engines just after take off...the left engine lost power first, and the left engine manifold pressure indication dropped from 40 " hg. To 25"hg. The right engine subsequently experienced a partial loss of power...[the pilot] elected to put the aircraft back on to the runway before the airplane stalled." On July 10, 1996, both of the airplane's engines were test run on the ramp, at Signature Aviation, Orlando, Florida. No discrepancies were found with either engine during the test runs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N441CB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N441CB-2001-02-03), registration cancelled 2001-02-03, S/N 61P-0417-150 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601P (AEROSTAR 6) - Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0417-150 - Airframe hours: 3155 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-S1A5 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Manfred W. Engler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 1996, 48 hours before - Departed: MCO - Destination: GSP, GREENVILLE, SC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MCO, Orlando International, runway 18R, 12,004 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,325 total, 550 in this make and model, 1,282 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCO ## 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 19960524015899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960524015899A), May 24, 1996: Piper PA60601P, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. No narrative available ## Other investigations on N441CB (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 CHI99FA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99FA227), Apr 1, 1999: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 601P (N441CB), St. Clair Shore, MI, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: Undetermined as the aircraft was not recovered. 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.