20230128001989A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Aero Commander 500-B · Sylacauga, AL · January 28, 2023

Date: January 28, 2023 · 17:51 local
Place: Sylacauga, AL
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N107DF
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA23LA122
Reported as: Aero Commander 500-B
Reported engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,315 total342 in this make and model173 in the last 90 days

N107DFRegistration cancelled Feb 7, 2024 · Aero Commander 500-BS/N 500B-1191-97 · Built 1962 Airframe modelAero Commander 500-B 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.

On January 28, 2023, about 17:40 CST a twin-engine Aero Commander 500-B airplane, privacy data omitted, experience a loss of engine power during cruise flight enroute to (kbhm) after departure from (kvdf). Pilot landed in open field airplane impacted trees and bob-wire fenced coming to rest on belly of fuselage. Left wing and engine separated from airplane and right wing severely damaged and partially separated from airplane. Both wing fuel bladders were breach with minor fuel leakage notice on ground adjacent to wing. Fuselage of airplane showed punctured holes on both sides forward and aft of aircraft. Airplane was substantially damaged.

As the FAA filed it

ON JANUARY 28, 2023, ABOUT 17:40 CST A TWIN-ENGINE AERO COMMANDER 500-B AIRPLANE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT ENROUTE TO (KBHM) AFTER DEPARTURE FROM (KVDF). PILOT LANDED IN OPEN FIELD AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES AND BOB-WIRE FENCED COMING TO REST ON BELLY OF FUSELAGE. LEFT WING AND ENGINE SEPARATED FROM AIRPLANE AND RIGHT WING SEVERELY DAMAGED AND PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM AIRPLANE. BOTH WING FUEL BLADDERS WERE BREACH WITH MINOR FUEL LEAKAGE NOTICE ON GROUND ADJACENT TO WING. FUSELAGE OF AIRPLANE SHOWED PUNCTURED HOLES ON BOTH SIDES FORWARD AND AFT OF AIRCRAFT. AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

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 ERA23LA122Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSylacauga, ALThe pilot’s failure to assure there was an adequate amount of fuel onboard to complete the flight, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Jan 28, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N107DF · 2

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

Incident 20071231830989ILevel Off Touchdown · Louisville, KY(-23) The pilot of the aircraft reported moderate to severe turbulence during his approach to Louisville Bowman Field (see pilot statement). At the time he normally would have extended the landing gear, the aircraft encountered turbulence so strong that the…Dec 31, 2007 · Minor damage Incident 19951208040189IForced/Precautionary Landing · Omaha, NENarrative: after receiving takeoff clearance the pilot said he set the power at 2000 RPM. He checked the engine instruments which he said were indicating in their respective green arcs. He said he released the brakes applying full power. He said the takeoff…Dec 8, 1995 · Minor damage