# NTSB NYC85LA226: Smith, Ted Aerostar Aerostar 601P, N90342, Wrightstown, NJ, August 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 1985, 20:30 local (Aug 28, 1985, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Wrightstown, NJ
- Location: 40.0256° N, 74.6319° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wrightstown, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0256&lon=-74.6319&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35958
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35958/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA226

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise
  - exhaust system,manifold/pipe - failure,total (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate standard/requirement, manufacturer (contributing factor)
- Fire, descent - emergency
  - exhaust system,manifold/pipe - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency

## Analysis

DURING AN ENROUTE CLIMB THE PILOT NOTICED A MANIFOLD PRESSURE LOSS ON THE LEFT ENGINE. OIL PRESSURE AND TEMP GAUGES WENT OFF AND THE LEFT ENGINE WAS SECURED BY THE PIILOT. DURING SHUTDOWN A PASSENGER INFORMED THE PILOT THAT THE LEFT WING WAS TURNING BROWN. PILOT MADE RAPID DESCENT AND EMERGENCY LANDING AT AIR FORCE BASE. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT TAILPIPE HAD BROKEN AND ROTATED OUT OF RELATIVE POSITION ALLOWING HOT EXHAUST GAS TO START FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE WAS PROGRESSING AFT TOWARD MAIN WING SPAR.THERE HAVE BEEN TWELVE SIMILAR OCCURRENCES REPORTED ON THIS TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY TO DATE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90342 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601P (AEROSTAR 6)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61P0209-020
- Airframe hours: 1514
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Shoreman Food Technologies
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 1985, 116 hours before
- Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Destination: N92, MIDDLETOWN, DE
- Airport: WRI, Mcguire Afb, runway 18, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 274 in this make and model, 3,590 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 19850827073829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850827073829A), Aug 27, 1985: Piper PA60601P, Wrightstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Safe landing after inflight fire started by failed tail pipe weld.

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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