# NTSB CEN12LA192: Aero Commander 100, N5551M, Seguin, TX, January 28, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2012, 10:23 local (16:23 UTC) - Place: Seguin, TX - Coordinates: 29.566667, -97.949996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5667&lon=-97.9500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 83168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83168/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83168 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA192 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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 100, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0140202), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander 100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0140202), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aero Commander 100, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0140202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. During the forced landing to a field, the airplane struck a wire fence and nosed over. The weather and the field conditions where the airplane nosed over prevented the recovery of the airplane and hindered investigators in examining the engine and fuel system. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that the airplane was not operating in an area favorable for the formation of carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2012, at 1023 central standard time, an Aero Commander 100, N5551M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Seguin, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received minor injuries. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight had just departed a private airstrip near Page, Texas, and was en route to Huber Airpark, Seguin, Texas. According to the pilot, the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot did not observe a mechanical noise, surging, or backfiring with the loss of engine power. During the forced landing to a field the airplane struck a wire fence and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was crushed and the firewall was wrinkled. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident reported that the airplane had not been flown since its last annual inspection in June of 2011. He stated that 10 gallons of fuel were added to the right wing and the purpose of the flight was to relocate the airplane to a nearby airport for more fuel. The pilot stated that the engine ran for 15 minutes on the ground, without any problems, prior to departure. The weather and the field conditions where the airplane nosed over prevented the recovery of the airplane and hindered investigators in examining the engine and fuel system. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, located in the FAA's Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, dated 6/30/2009, revealed that the airplane was not operating in an area favorable for the formation of carburetor icing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5551M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5551M-2013-01-31), registration cancelled 2013-01-31, S/N 087, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 100 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 100](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100) (registry code 0140202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 087 - Airframe hours: 2000 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2011 - Departed: 45XA, Page, TX - Destination: E70, Seguin, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 141 total, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 19 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: KBAZ ## 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 20120128009849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120128009849A), Jan 28, 2012: Aero Commander 100, Seguine, TX, Substantial damage. N551M departed a private airport at approximately 10:20 am for huber airpark to refuel. The aircraft had just been purchased from the owner of the private… ## Other investigations on N5551M (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 MIA69D0062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA69D0062), Jul 13, 1968: Aero Comdr 100 (N5551M), Arlington, GA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83168. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.