# NTSB CEN11LA543: Aero Commander S2R, N1735S, Washington, IA, August 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2011, 17:43 local (22:43 UTC) - Place: Washington, IA - Coordinates: 41.268611, -91.6875 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2686&lon=-91.6875&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Des moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA543 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81385/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81385 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA543 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane's engine stopped producing power during climb after takeoff. The airplane impacted terrain as the pilot was attempting to avoid a house during the forced landing. A postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed crankshaft and accessory system continuity. The magnetos and fuel system could not be tested due to impact damage. No preimpact anomalies were noted during the examination that would explain the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2011, about 1743 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N1735S, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Washington, Iowa. The pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the engine. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Cat Aviation, Inc, of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating from the Washington Municipal Airport (AWG), Washington, Iowa, when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that the airplane's engine stopped producing power during climb out after takeoff. The airplane impacted terrain as the pilot was attempting to avoid a house during the forced landing. According to maintenance records, the most recent maintenance performed on the airplane was an annual inspection on January 17, 2011. A postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed crankshaft and accessory system continuity. The magnetos and fuel system could not be tested due to impact damage. No preimpact anomalies were noted during the examination that would explain the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1735S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1735S-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 1438R, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER S2R - Registry model: [Aero Commander S2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (registry code 0143022) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1438R - Airframe hours: 14408 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Cat Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Cat Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 2011 - Departed: AWG, Washington, IA - Destination: AWG, Washington, IA - Airport: AWG, Washington Municipal Airport, runway 18, 4,000 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 700 total, 150 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: AWG, 1 nm away ## 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 20110803016709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110803016709A), Aug 3, 2011: Aero Commander S2R, Washington, IA, Destroyed. After taking on 75 gallons of fuel and 400 gallons of chemical, pilot departed Washington municipal airport, Washington, Iowa on runway 18. Shortly after take… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81385. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 631 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance record excerpts (item 2, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20record%20excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - David Bausch (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20David%20Bausch-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.