20140517016249A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Aero Commander 500 S · Fort Hauchuca, AZ · May 17, 2014

Date: May 17, 2014 · 10:20 local
Place: Fort Hauchuca, AZ
Airport: Sierra Vista Municipal-Libby Aaf
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: EHSA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N40TC
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR14FA194
Reported as: Aero Commander 500 S
Reported engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 13,175 total2,000 in this make and model

N40TCRegistration cancelled Jan 9, 2015 · Aero Commander 500 SS/N 3091 · Built 1976 Airframe modelAero Commander 500 S Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N40TC crashed after takeoff at fhu on 5/17/2014. The aircraft had normal run up and take off. At the end of the runway the landing gear was retracted. Soon after the aircraft lost power in both engines and began rapid descent. The PIC attempted to turn the aircraft back towards the runway instead of attempted to land straight ahead in the area.

Resulting investigation of the cause of the event is that both engines ran out of fuel - even though the aircraft was fully fueled (excess of 100 gallons recovered). Cause of no fuel to engines is that the fuel shut off valves had been activated to off (solenoid operation - the valve only operates under power).

As the FAA filed it

N40TC CRASHED AFTER TAKEOFF AT FHU ON 5/17/2014. THE AIRCRAFT HAD NORMAL RUN UP AND TAKE OFF. AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED. SOON AFTER THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER IN BOTH ENGINES AND BEGAN RAPID DESCENT. THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT BACK TOWARDS THE RUNWAY INSTEAD OF ATTEMPTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD IN THE AREA.

RESULTING INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSE OF THE EVENT IS THAT BOTH ENGINES RAN OUT OF FUEL - EVEN THOUGH THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULLY FUELED (EXCESS OF 100 GALLONS RECOVERED). CAUSE OF NO FUEL TO ENGINES IS THAT THE FUEL SHUT OFF VALVES HAD BEEN ACTIVATED TO OFF (SOLENOID OPERATION - THE VALVE ONLY OPERATES UNDER POWER).

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR14FA194Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportFort Huachuca, AZThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack after a total loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. The reason for…May 17, 2014 · Substantial damage