# Accident 19980718021649A: Commander 114TC, West Jordan, UT, July 18, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 1998, 12:30 local time
- Place: West Jordan, UT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5999° N, 111.9596° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5999&lon=-111.9596&mi=10
- Aircraft: N61174, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61174-2017-04-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Commander 114TC (registry code 0145002, https://openairdocs.org/model/commander-114tc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540AG1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 358 total, 43 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98FA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA325) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980718021649A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PROBLEM ON CLIMBOUT. CRASHED SHORT. EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO TURBO CAME OFF. GAS SES CAUSED FIRE. SCORCHED CARPET.                                         (-23)ON 07/18/98 AROUND 1230 P.M., PILOT FRANK L. EARL, TOOK OFF ON A LOCAL FLIGHT FROM SLC AIRPORT #2.  SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF HE APPARENTLY EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM AND TRIED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT.  HE CRAHSED APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT.  ARICRAFT WAS DESTROYED, PILOT FATAL.  INVESTIGATION INDICATES THE CLAMP HOLDING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE TURBO CHARGER BROKE OFF, ALLOWING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO SEPARATE AND ALLOW GASES TO ENTER THE ENGIEN COMPARTMENT.  EVDIENCE OF FUEL, EVIDENCE ALSO SUGGESTS THE FIRE SCORCHED THE CARPET UNDER THE PILOTS LEFT RUDDER PEDAL.  NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL, HYDRAULIC, OR OIL COMPROMISED.  THEREFORE, THE CLAMP FAILURE BETWEEN THE TURBO CHARGER AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98FA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA325), Jul 18, 1998: Commander 114TC (N61174), West Jordan, UT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A brittle fracture of the clamp that joins the exhaust pipe to the turbocharger. The pipe separated and hot exhaust gases escaped into the engine compartment. The engine lost power due to the high…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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