Butler AEROSTAR 601 N7443S

Summary

On 16 March 1990 at about 03:45 local time, a Butler AEROSTAR 601 registered N7443S was involved in an accident near Lake Butler, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 March 1990 at 03:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Butler, Florida, United States

Coordinates

30.0194, -82.3293

Aircraft

Butler AEROSTAR 601

Registration

N7443S

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jacksonville → Atlanta

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA90FA090

1 person had minor injuries.

INFLIGHT FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL RESULTING IN HEAT DAMAGED MAGNETO LEADS AS A RESULT OF A MISSING EXHAUST FLANGE-TO-TURBOCHARGER SEAL. IN ADDITION, THE INFLIGHT POWER LOSS OF THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS CAUSED BY THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN THE AIRPLANE OPERATING HANDBOOK AND LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 14,000 FT THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT DIVERTED TO TAMPA, AND 34 MINUTES LATER THE RIGHT ENGINE QUIT. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE ROOF OF A COVERED SIDEWALK AND THEN TREES. TEARDOWN OF THE LEFT ENG REVEALED THAT THE SEAL BETWEEN THE EXHAUST FLANGE & TURBOCHARGER WAS NOT INSTALLED; BOLT CLAMP WAS FINGER TIGHT. HEAT HAD MELTED WIRING HARNESS & MAG GROUNDING LEADS INSULATION; BOTH 'P' LEADS WERE GROUNDED. PILOT STATED THAT AFTER LOSING THE LEFT ENG HE INITIATED A LEFT TANK TO RIGHT ENGINE CROSSFEED, AND AFTER 20 MINUTES OF SINGLE ENG FLIGHT IN THIS CONFIGURATION THE RIGHT ENG QUIT. FLIGHT MANUAL STATES TO LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN CASE OF ONE ENG FAILURE. IN ADDITION, IT WARNS THAT WHEN FLYING ON ONE ENG & CROSSFEEDING FUEL, ABSOLUTE COORDINATED FLIGHT MUST BE MAINTAINED TO PREVENT UNPORTING OF THE TANK'S FUEL PICKUP TUBE WHEN THE TANK IS NOT FULL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.