You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Friday 18 June 1982 |
| Time: | 21:30 LT |
| Type: |  Ted Smith Aerostar 601 |
| Owner/operator: | Tech Industries, Inc. |
| Registration: | N71MA |
| MSN: | 61-0217-094 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1700 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TIO-540 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Martha's Vineyard, MA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Lancaster, PA |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
DURING AN ILS WITH THE AUTOPILOT COUPLER ON, A HIGH SINK RATE DEVELOPED TOWARD THE END OF THE APPROACH. THE PILOT UNCOUPLED THE AUTOPILOT AND BEGAN A MISSED APPROACH, BUT THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE TOP OF A TREE. HE DIVERTED AND LANDED AT PROVIDENCE, RI WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AFTER LANDING, SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OF THE RIGHT FLAP AND RIGHT PROPELLER WAS FOUND. A BENCH CHECK OF THE BENDIX FCS-810 AUTOPILOT REVEALED THAT THE TRANSISTORS IN THE GLIDE SLOPE WASH-OUT CIRCUIT WERE FAULTY. THEY WERE INTERMITTENTLY APPLYING A POSITIVE VOLTAGE THAT RESULTED IN A FALSE PITCH GYRO SIGNAL AND A DOWNWARD HARDOVER.
Probable Cause:
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB NYC82FNA20
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 19 July 1985 | N71MA | Don Evans | 2 | Erie, PA | |
w/o |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Apr-2024 07:56 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation