# Incident 20041216033039I: Gulstm 500U, Des Moines, IA, December 16, 2004

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 16, 2004, 18:25 local time
- Place: Des Moines, IA
- Airport: Des Moines International
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ZJWA
- Location: 41.5340° N, 93.6631° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DES MOINES INTL (DSM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5340&lon=-93.6631&mi=10
- Aircraft: N607MM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N607MM-2026-09-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 500-U (registry code 0141108, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-u) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULSTM 500U
- Reported engine: LYC IO540E1A5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,810 total, 555 in this make and model, 290 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041216033039I

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM OMA TO DSM ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. AT 6000' DURING DESCENT, THE LEFT ENGINE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE (CRANKSHAFT, CAMSHAFT, AND CRANKCASE FRACTURED) THAT RESULTED IN AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SELF-EXTINGUISHED AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND CONTINUED TO DSM WHERE HE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. MINOR DAMAGE RESULTED TO THE LEFT ENGINE COWLING AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING AND HOSES.

## Other reports on N607MM (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20201020014599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201020014599I), Oct 20, 2020: Aero Commander 500-U (N607MM), Tampa, FL, Minor damage. A licensed mechanic had replaced both main gear actuators prior to this flight. The right main gear collapsed when the pilot tried to make a pedal turn to…
- [Incident 19931119048239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931119048239I), Nov 19, 1993: Gulstm 500U (N607MM), Wichita, KS, Minor damage. Pilot failed to extend landing gear. Landed gear up.

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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