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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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November 5, 1986 · Smith Ted Aerostar 601P · N8002J

Jacksonville, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 5, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Jacksonville, FL
Aircraft
Smith Ted Aerostar 601P
Tail Number
N8002J
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA87LA021

While in cruise flight, the pilot noted that the left engine began losing power and oil pressure. He stated that he then shut down the engine and feathered the propeller. He declared an emergency and descended to land. While on final approach, he lowered the landing gear and selected full flaps to slow the aircraft. He stated the airspeed decayed and the aircraft began to roll and yaw to the left. Subsequently, it contacted the ground in a left wing low attitude, then partially cartwheeled before coming to rest. A post accident examination of the left engine revealed that a turbo-charger oil seal had deteriorated and failed, allowing oil to escape through the turbocharger exhaust. There was evidence of the beginning of progressive failure of the turbocharger. Also, there were indications that the left propeller was not fully feathered and that it was windmilling at impact. The pilot believed that he may have moved the left prop control out of the feather position by mistake.

Full Narrative

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER AND OIL PRESSURE. HE STATED THAT HE THEN SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND DESCENDED TO LAND. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, HE LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR AND SELECTED FULL FLAPS TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THE AIRSPEED DECAYED AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROLL AND YAW TO THE LEFT. SUBSEQUEDNTLY, IT CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE, THEN PARTIALLY CARTWHEELED BEFORE COMING TO REST. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED THAT A TURBO- CHARGER OIL SEAL HAD DETERIORATED & FAILED, ALLOWING OIL TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE TURBOCHARGER EXHAUST. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF THE BEGINNING OF PROGRESSIVE FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER. ALSO, THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS NOT FULLY FEATHERED AND THAT IT WAS WINDMILLING AT IMPACT. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT HE MAY HAVE MOVED THE LEFT PROP CONTROL OUT OF THE FEATHER POSITION BY MISTAKE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:24 EST
Nearest AirportJacksonville (0nm N)
Runway7
Runway Length8000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSmith Ted Aerostar 601P
Tail NumberN8002J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-S1A5 · Reciprocating · 290
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 62 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind50° @ 3 kt, gusting 3 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 63 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:46
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data