N9784QSmith AEROSTAR 600

On August 2, 2022, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 600, N9784Q, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near South Haven Area Regional Airport (LWA), South Haven, Michigan. The air transport pilot and commercial pilot were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the spouse of the copilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, he sent her a text message on the morning of the accident saying he was going to conduct three takeoffs and landings after a preflight inspection of the airplane. A friend of the copilot stated that he spoke to the pilot that same morning. The friend stated that this was the first flight since the copilot had purchased the airplane, and he planned to stay in the traffic pattern to conduct a few touch-and-go landings. The friend also mentioned that another passenger, who was also a pilot, had flown in to accompany the pilot. The copilot had purchased the airplane about five years before and had been working on it since then.

When the friend arrived at the airport he noticed the airplane was not in the traffic pattern. After a few hours, he became concerned and assumed that the airplane had landed at another airport. Later that evening, the copilot's wife called the friend to say she had not heard from her spouse. They contacted the local authorities and reported the airplane missing. The airplane was found the following morning in a heavily wooded area about one mile north of the airport.

During the recovery of the airplane, it was determined that the copilot/owner was in the right seat of the airplane. The pilot who had flown in to accompany the copilot was in the left seat.

The pilot held an Airline Transport Certificate with single-engine and multi-engine ratings. He held a flight instructor certificate with airplane single-engine, airplane multiengine, and instrument airplane ratings. He had accumulated about 28,500 total hours of flight experience.

The copilot/owner held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. He had accumulated about 3,250 total hours of flight experience.

The airplane came to rest oriented on a magnetic heading of 010° in a heavily wooded area. All major flight components of the airplane were still connected to airframe and located at the accident site. The cockpit and instrument panel were destroyed by impact forces. The cockpit displays and controls were destroyed. The engine control quadrant was impact damaged and the positions were unreliable due to the damage. The fuselage displayed impact and crush damage. The wings were partially attached to the fuselage and displayed damage consistent with impact. All fuel tanks were breached, and the smell of fuel and browning foliage was present around the wreckage site.

Examination of the wings revealed the ailerons and flaps were still attached and displayed damage consistent with impact. Flight control push-pull tube continuity was observed from the primary flight control surfaces to the cockpit section. The tail section was separated from the fuselage and the left and right elevators remained attached to their respective horizontal stabilizer. The elevator trim tabs were impact damaged. The rudder remained attached to the vertical stabilizer and displayed impact damage. The flaps were observed in the 45° position, and the rudder trim tab actuator attach bracket was broken consistent with overstress, and the trim tab was impact damaged. The main landing gear were not up and locked within both wings.

The left engine was found partially detached and resting on the top of the wing. There was a smell of 100LL aviation fuel and browned foliage around the wing. During the examination of the engine the top spark plugs were removed from all cylinders. The engine’s crankshaft was rotated 720° by hand, and suction and compression were observed on all cylinders. The No. 6 cylinder had an impact-damaged pushrod, but valve action was still observed. The magnetos were removed and both magnetos produced spark at all leads when rotated by hand. Examination of the engine-driven vacuum pump revealed it was free of any cracks or damage. Examination of the oil filter screen revealed it to be absent of debris.

Examination of the fuel injector servo for the left engine revealed it was securely attached to the engine. The unit was removed and disassembled. The fuel inlet screen was held into place by large amounts of sediment, corrosion, and metal contamination. The screen had some sediment on the inside of the screen, but most was on the outside of the screen and the walls of passageway in the unit.

A review of a maintenance logbook excerpt revealed the left “fuel injection servo” inlet screen was inspected on June 26, 2020.

Examination of the engine-driven fuel pump revealed it was attached securely to the engine. After being removed for further examination, the pump input drive exhibited resistance during rotation. A drill was used to rotate it at a higher rpm, but weak suction and compression was noted at the respective ports.

The left propeller exhibited signatures consistent with low rotation speed at impact including chordwise/rotational scoring and gradual aft bends with no twisting or notable leading-edge damage. The damage was also consistent with the left propeller being at or near the low pitch stop and not feathered at impact. The propeller governor was examined and the inlet screen was found to be clean of any debris. The propeller governor shaft input was rotated, and oil exited the unit.

The right engine was still attached to the right wing, crushed aft, showing damage consistent with impact. There was browning foliage around the engine and a smell of 100LL aviation fuel. During the examination of the engine the top spark plugs were removed from all cylinders and the engine’s crankshaft was rotated 720° by hand. All cylinders produced suction and compression. The Nos. 4 and 5 cylinders had bent and impact damaged pushrods. Valve action was still achieved after removal of the damaged pushrods.

The magnetos were removed for the examination and both magnetos produced spark at all leads when the input drive was rotated by hand. The engine-driven vacuum pump was found free of any cracks or damage. The oil filter was impact damaged and was not removed for examination.

The right fuel injector servo was found securely attached to the engine. The unit was removed and disassembled. The fuel inlet screen was removed from the unit and found free and clear of any debris.

The engine-driven fuel pump was attached to the engine and removed for examination. The pump’s input shaft was spun by hand and when rotated with a drill suction and compression was noted at the respective ports.

The right propeller exhibited signatures consistent with higher rotational speeds/power settings, displaying chordwise/rotational scoring, tip fractures, compound bend and twist patterns on two blades, forward bending on one blade, leading edge gouging, and indications of a bent pitch change rod. The damage was also consistent with the right propeller blades being near the low pitch stop and not feathered at impact. The propeller governor appeared intact and relatively undamaged.

A representative from the airplane’s type certificate holder stated that, depending on the airplane’s takeoff weight, it generally could not maintain level flight during an engine-out condition unless the flaps and landing gear were up and the failed engine’s propeller was feathered.

The Medical Examiner and Forensic Services of the Western Michigan University School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, Michigan performed an autopsy of the pilot and copilot. Their cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing on the pilot’s tissue samples, which identified metoprolol and valsartan. Metoprolol is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, angina, heart failure, and abnormal heart rates. Valsartan is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure with left ventricular dysfunction. Neither medication is generally considered impairing.