# Accident 20140517016249A: Aero Commander 500 S, Fort Hauchuca, AZ, May 17, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 2014, 10:20 local time
- Place: Fort Hauchuca, AZ
- Airport: Sierra Vista Municipal-Libby Aaf
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EHSA
- Location: 31.5864° N, 110.3400° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5864&lon=-110.3400&mi=10
- Aircraft: N40TC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40TC-2015-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 500 S (registry code 0141107, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500 S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 13,175 total, 2,000 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14FA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA194) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140517016249A

## Narrative

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

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 AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED.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).

## 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 WPR14FA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA194), May 17, 2014: Aero Commander 500 S (N40TC), Fort Huachuca, AZ, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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…

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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