# NTSB CEN11CA136: Aero Commander 500-B, N888CA, Columbus, OH, December 28, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 27, 2010, 22:46 local (Dec 28, 2010, 03:46 UTC) - Place: Columbus, OH - Coordinates: 40.079723, -83.072776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0797&lon=-83.0728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-circling (IFR): Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78087/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78087 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA136 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-circling (IFR): Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-circling (IFR): Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to the flight, the pilot preflighted the airplane and recalled observing the fuel gauge indicating full; however, he did not visually check the fuel tanks. The airplane departed and the en route portion of the flight was uneventful. During the downwind leg of the circling approach, the engines began to surge and the pilot added full power and turned on the fuel boost pumps. While abeam the approach end of the runway on the downwind leg, the engines again started to surge and subsequently lost power. He executed a forced landing and the airplane impacted terrain short of the runway. A postaccident examination by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the fuselage was buckled in several areas, and the left wing was crushed and bent upward. The fuel tanks were intact and approximately one cup of fuel was drained from the single fuel sump. Fueling records indicated the airplane was fueled 3 days prior to the accident with 135 gallons of fuel or approximately 4 hours of operational time. Flight records indicated the airplane had flown approximately 4 hours since refueling when the engines lost power. ## Factual narrative Prior to the flight, the pilot preflighted the airplane and recalled observing the fuel gauge indicating full; however, he did not visually check the fuel tanks. The airplane departed and the en route portion of the flight was uneventful. During the downwind leg of the circling approach, the engines began to surge and the pilot added full power and turned on the fuel boost pumps which "seemed to resolve the problem..." While abeam the approach end of the runway on the downwind leg, the engines again started to surge and subsequently lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing and the airplane impacted terrain short of the runway. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the fuselage was buckled in several areas, and the left wing was crushed and bent upward. The fuel tanks were intact and approximately one cup of fuel was drained from the single fuel sump. Fueling records indicated the airplane was fueled 3 days prior with 135 gallons of fuel or approximately 4 hours of operational time. Flight records indicated the airplane had flown approximately 4 hours since refueling when the engines lost power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N888CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N888CA-2015-05-21), registration cancelled 2015-05-21, S/N 1318-127, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500-B - Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1318-127 - Airframe hours: 24922 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Central Airlines Inc - Registered owner: Central Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 28, 2010 - Departed: JVY, Jeffersonville, IN - Destination: Columbus, OH - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 5,700 total, 3,525 in this make and model, 4,700 as pilot in command, 278 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20101227054099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101227054099A), Dec 27, 2010: Aero Comman 500-B, Columbus, OH, Substantial damage. While on a down wind approach to runway 27L at osu the pilot of N888CA declared an emergency. The aircraft descended sharply on the base leg hitting the ground… ## Other investigations on N888CA (2) 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 MKC80FCJ16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80FCJ16), Jun 22, 1980: Aero Comndr 500B (N888CA), Omaha, NE, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC78FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FA025), Mar 7, 1978: Aero Comdr 500B (N888CA), Hutchinson, KS, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78087. 413 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.