Saturday, August 19, 2017

Smith Aerostar 601P, personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, N7108: Accident occurred August 19, 2017 at Donegal Springs Airpark (N71), Mount Joy, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; New Cumberland, Pennsylvania

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N7108

Location: Marietta, PA
Accident Number: ERA17LA288
Date & Time: 08/19/2017, 1642 EDT
Registration: N7108
Aircraft: SMITH AEROSTAR601
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On August 19, 2017, about 1642 eastern daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N7108, was substantially damaged during takeoff from the Donegal Springs Airpark (N71), Marietta, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

According to the pilot he was hired by the owner of the airplane to reposition it from N71 to New Orleans, Louisiana. After completing a preflight inspection and engine run-up, he taxied the airplane to the active runway for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane swerved to the right and the pilot corrected to the left and aborted the takeoff; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with an embankment.

According to a mechanic, who was hired by the airplane owner to conduct a pre-purchase inspection of the airplane; the pilot was planning to deliver the airplane and had not previously flown the make and model of the accident airplane. He reviewed the operation of the airplane's systems with the pilot, including a specific discussion of the steering and braking systems, and then left the airport. The mechanic later received a call from the pilot who informed him about the accident and during a subsequent conversation the pilot stated that the airplane "got away from him."

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing was buckled, and the right main landing gear separated from the trunnion mount. Examination of the flight control system and the nose wheel steering system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. During an interview with the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that he had never previously flown the accident airplane make and model, or any multiengine airplanes with engines capable of producing more than 300 horsepower each.

The weather conditions reported at the Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which was located about 10 miles north of the accident site, included wind from 230° at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, ceiling few at 6,000 ft, temperature 31° C, dew point 19° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.85 inches of mercury. At the time of the accident the airplane was departing with a quartering tail wind. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/23/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 400 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: SMITH
Registration: N7108
Model/Series: AEROSTAR601 P
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1967
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 61P-0405-142
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/13/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 6000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3957 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO540S1A5
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 290 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MDT, 309 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2056 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 305°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 6000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 230°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.85 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 19°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Marietta, PA (N71)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Marietta, PA (N71)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1642 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: DONEGAL SPRINGS AIRPARK (N71)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 458 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 10
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3250 ft / 50 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None

Latitude, Longitude: 40.092222, -76.574444 (est)

NTSB Identification: ERA17LA288
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 19, 2017 in Marietta, PA
Aircraft: SMITH AEROSTAR601, registration: N7108
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On August 19, 2017, about 1642 eastern daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 601P, N7108, was substantially damaged during takeoff from the Donegal Springs Airpark (N71), Marietta, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

According to the pilot, after completing a preflight inspection and engine run-up, he taxied the airplane to the active runway for takeoff. On takeoff roll, the airplane swerved to the right, the pilot corrected to the left and aborted the takeoff; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with an embankment.

According to an aircraft mechanic, who was hired by the airplane owner to conduct a pre-purchase inspection of the airplane, the pilot was planning to deliver the airplane and had not previously flown the make and model of the accident airplane. He reviewed the operation of the airplane's steering and braking systems with the pilot, and then left the airport. The mechanic later received a call from the pilot who informed him about the accident and indicated that the airplane "got away from him."

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing was buckled, and the right main landing gear separated from the trunnion mount. A review of the maintenance records and examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would precluded normal operation.



Donegal Springs Airpark was shut down late Saturday afternoon after a small airplane went off the runway.

The pilot, who was the only person in the plane, was not injured in the incident which was reported at 4:42 p.m.

While responding crews soon deemed the incident a “non-emergency,” some fuel was reportedly leaking from the plane and the runway was shut down.

The plane came to rest just off the edge of the runway, next to a cornfield. The plane’s tail knocked down a small section of corn. 

Original article can be found here ➤ http://lancasteronline.com

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