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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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December 4, 1987 · Piper PA-60-600 · N500TS

Mansfield, OH

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 4, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Mansfield, OH
Aircraft
Piper PA-60-600
Tail Number
N500TS
Operator
Air Continental
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL88FA052

The pilot departed Louisville, KY reportedly with a known oil leak in the right engine and was on the second leg of an on-demand air taxi cargo flight. About 14 minutes after entering Mansfield Approach Control airspace, the pilot requested and received an altitude change from 5,000 to 3,000 ft because he 'was picking up a lot of ice.' After entering Cleveland Approach airspace, he reported the right engine had failed and requested to return to Mansfield. The pilot was informed of Mansfield weather. He then indicated he wanted to try Cleveland, then reported he could not maintain altitude and wanted to go to Mansfield. The pilot was receiving vectors from Mansfield for an ASR approach to runway 23 and at about 1 1/2 miles from the threshold the pilot reported he was lowering the landing gear. The aircraft then disappeared from the radar scope. Investigation revealed improper weld repairs to the right engine case and separation of the number six cylinder from the case due to fatigue cracking in the through bolts and studs.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED LOUISVILLE, KY REPORTEDLY WITH A KNOWN OIL LEAK IN THE RIGHT ENGINE AND WAS ON THE SECOND LEG OF AN ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI CARGO FLIGHT. ABOUT 14 MINUTES AFTER ENTERING MANSFIELD APPROACH CONTROL AIRSPACE, THE PILOT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN ALTITUDE CHANGE FROM 5,000 TO 3,000 FT BECAUSE HE 'WAS PICKING UP A LOT OF ICE.' AFTER ENTERING CLEVELAND APPROACH AIRSPACE HE REPORTED THE RIGHT ENGINE HAD FAILED AND REQUESTED TO RETURN TO MANSFIELD. THE PILOT WAS INFORMED OF MANSFIELD WEATHER. HE THEN INDICATED HE WANTED TO TRY CLEVELAND, THEN REPORTED HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND WANTED TO GO TO MANSFIELD. THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING VECTORS FROM MANSFIELD FOR AN ASR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 23 AND AT ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES FROM THE THRESHOLD THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LOWERING THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED IMPROPER WELD REPAIRS TO THE RIGHT ENGINE CASE AND SEPARATION OF THE NUMBER SIX CYLINDER FROM THE CASE DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKING IN THE THROUGH BOLTS AND STUDS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:59 EST
Nearest AirportMansfield Lahm Municipal (0nm NE)
Runway23
Runway Length6795 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-60-600
Tail NumberN500TS
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAir Continental
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1J5 · Reciprocating · 290
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind310° @ 4 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point32 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data