- Date
- September 1, 2011, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Park Rapids, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8962QAero Commander S2R
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 22, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20110901021229A
- Case key
- 81762
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While returning to the airport after completing an aerial application, the pilot noticed a reduction in engine RPM and a rise in oil temperature. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and he elected to execute a forced landing to a road. During the forced landing, the left wing contacted a tree and pivoted the airplane into trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed both wing spars and the right elevator were bent. Based on his observations during the engine failure and his past engine failure experience, the pilot suspected the main bearing failed within the engine. The engine was not disassembled for further examination and the cause of the engine failure was not determined.
Factual narrative
While returning to the airport after completing an aerial application, the pilot noticed a reduction in engine rpm and a rise in oil temperature. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and he elected to execute a forced landing on a road. During the forced landing, the left wing contacted a tree and pivoted the airplane into trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed both wing spars and the right elevator were bent. Based on his observations during the engine failure and his past engine failure experience, the pilot suspected the main bearing failed within the engine. The engine was not disassembled for further examination and the cause of the engine failure was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8962Q
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1632R
- Airframe hours
- 9,403
- Engine
- P & W R-1340-AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Heuer Daniel C H
- Registered owner
- Heuer Daniel C H
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 2011
- Departed
- PKD · Park Rapids, MN
- Destination
- Park Rapids, MN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2010
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 16,113 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 15,500 as pilot in command · 330 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 478 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8962Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.