# Accident 20140527007909A: Aero Commander 200D, La Grange, TX, May 27, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 2014, 15:35 local time
- Place: La Grange, TX
- Airport: Fayette Regional Air Center
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.9000° N, 96.9469° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9000&lon=-96.9469&mi=10
- Aircraft: N200D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N200D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 200D (registry code 0140312, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-200d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 200D
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,000 total, 459 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA263) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140527007909A

## Narrative

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

IN ROUTE FROM KLCH, LAKE CHARLES REGIONAL TO T82, GILLESPIE COUNTY, WHILE AT CRUISE ALTITUDE, THE PILOT REPORTED A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A VERY ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE AND LOTS OF SMOKE. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY THROUGH AUSTIN TRACON, REQUESTING AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND THE CLOSEST AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED BREAKING THROUGH THE CLOUD COVER AT APPROXIMATELY 1000' AGL WITH FAYETTE REGIONAL AIR CENTER (3T5) IN SIGHT. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1500' FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 16 AT 3T5. DURING LANDING, AT APPROXIMATELY 375 YARDS, THE AIRCRAFT NOSE GEAR SHEARED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE RIGHT WING TO DIP INTO THE MUDDY FIELD. WHEN THE RIGHT WING DIPPED, COMPRESSION DAMAGE OCCURRED AT THE POINT WHERE THE RIGHT WING MOUNTS TO THE FUSELAGE. POST EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED 2 LARGE HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CASE ABOVE THE #3 AND #4 CYLINDERS. THE #4 PISTON WRIST PIN WAS FOUND LODGED IN THE FRONT OF THE LEFT HAND NOSE COWL AND THE #4 PISTON ROD LODGED IN THE FRONT OF THE RIGHT HAND NOSE COWL. SEVERAL PIECES OF THE FRACTURED CASE WERE FOUND IN AND AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BETWEEN OTHER CYLINDERS. THE PROPELLER INDICATED ZERO THRUST AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE RECORDS INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION AND THE IFR CERTIFICATION FOR THE AIRCRAFT WAS CURRENT. THE PILOTS MOST CURRENT BFR WAS 01-10-2014 AND WAS ALSO CURRENT.

## 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 CEN14LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA263), May 27, 2014: Aero Commander 200D (N200D), La Grange, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to oil starvation for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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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