# Accident 20231107016699A: Aero Commander 500-B, Horton, MI, November 7, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 7, 2023, 15:10 local time
- Place: Horton, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: ZJWA
- Location: 42.2458° N, 84.4060° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2458&lon=-84.4060&mi=10
- Aircraft: N118PW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N118PW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 500-B (registry code 0141106, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500-B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 8,500 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231107016699A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ENROUTE TO JXN NEAR DAYTON, THE RIGHT ENGINE BEGAN TO SHOW A FUEL PRESSURE FLUCTUATION AND STARTED TO SURGE. PILOT TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP AND THAT ALLEVIATED THE SURGING. HE THEN CALLED DAYTON, AND CANCELLED HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN, AND SWITCHED TO VFR. PILOT STATED THAT THIS WAS BECAUSE IF HE DECIDED TO DIVERT, HE DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE TO ADJUST HIS FLIGHT PLAN AND WORRY ABOUT ATC. HE THEN DESCENDED TO 5500’. PILOT ATTEMPTED A FEW TROUBLESHOOTING ACTIONS ONCE HE WAS LEVEL AT 5500’. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD TURN OFF THE BOOST PUMP, AND THE ENGINE STILL SURGED AND SPUTTERED. HE TRIED DIFFERENT MIXTURE AND PROPELLER SETTINGS TO SEE IF ANYTHING STOPPED THE SURGING, BUT THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMED TO WORK AT THE TIME WAS THE BOOST PUMP. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN DESCENDED TO 3500’ CLOSER TO JACKSON. THE RIGHT ENGINE THEN HAD A FUEL FLOW FLUCTUATION EVEN WITH THE BOOST PUMP ON. IT WAS STILL RUNNING BUT SURGING. PILOT STATED HE HAD LOOKED AT THE FUEL GAUGE AND NOTED AROUND 60 GALLONS INDICATED. THE RIGHT ENGINE THEN LOST POWER WHILE AT 3500’. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TROUBLESHOOT AND RESTART THE RIGHT ENGINE, THE LEFT ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER APPROXIMATELY 3-4 MINUTES AFTER THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE LEFT ENGINE DID NOT SURGE OR SPUTTER PRIOR TO LOSING POWER. FUEL PRESSURE WAS NOTED BELOW 10PSI WHILE THE ENGINES WERE LOSING POWER. NO RESTART ATTEMPT WAS MADE IN THE AIR. THE PILOT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. HE DESCENDED INTO THE FIELD, WITH GEAR AND FLAPS DOWN, AND LANDED IN A RECENTLY HARVESTED HAY FIELD.

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND RATHER HARD THEN ROLLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS WHERE THE NOSE GEAR APPEARED TO STRIKE THE ROUGH TERRAIN AND WAS FORCED INTO THE NOSE WHEEL WELL WHERE THE AIRCRAFT SLID SIDEWAYS TO THE RIGHT AND THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND SKIDDED UNTIL THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SNAPPED OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST, LISTING TO THE LEFT. ENGINES AND PROPELLER APPEAR TO HAVE NO DAMAGE. THE LEFT-WING TIP SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND THE RIGHT-WING ROOT IS BUCKLED AND BENT.

## 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 CEN24LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA033), Nov 7, 2023: Aero Commander 500-B (N118PW), Jackson, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power to both engines as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel management. Contributing was the inoperative fuel quantity sending unit.

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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