# NTSB CEN14LA263: Aero Commander 200D, N200D, La Grange, TX, May 27, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2014, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: La Grange, TX - Coordinates: 29.899999, -96.946945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9000&lon=-96.9469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89301 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA263 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89301/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89301 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA263 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to oil starvation for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 200D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=0140312), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 200D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=0140312), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander 200D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=0140312), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Aero Commander 200D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0140312), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Aero Commander 200D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=0140312), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Aero Commander 200D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0140312), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aero Commander 200D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0140312), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, the airplane's engine began to run roughly. He then observed no pressure on the oil pressure gauge, and smoke entered the cockpit. The pilot shut down the engine and attempted to glide the airplane to the nearest airport. However, the pilot determined that the airplane would not make the runway and subsequently performed a forced landing to a field. A postaccident on-scene examination revealed damage to the engine's crankcase consistent with oil starvation. The airplane was repaired and the engine disposed of before a thorough examination could be conducted. The reason for the oil starvation could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2014, about 1540 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 200 airplane, N200D, collided with an unseen obstruction during a forced landing near La Grange, Texas. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to RichAv LLC and was operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. The flight originated from the Lake Charles Regional Airport (KLCH) about 1400.According to a statement made by the pilot, while in cruise at 6,500 feet mean sea level the engine began to run rough. The pilot observed 0 psi on the oil pressure gauge and smoke began to enter the cockpit. The pilot shut down the engine and began maneuvering for the nearest airport. The pilot performed a spiral descent for the airport and descended through the lowest cloud layer at 1,000 feet above ground level. The pilot located the airport and set up to enter the base leg of the traffic pattern. The airplane's descent rate did not allow the airplane to reach the runway and so the pilot performed a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane's nose wheel collided with an unseen hole in the field, resulting in the nose gear collapsing. The airplane's right wing contacted to the ground and was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration. Their examination revealed two holes in the crankcase, one above the number 3 cylinder and one above the number 4 cylinder. Damage to the engine was consistent with a loss of oil lubrication. Without the knowledge of the NTSB IIC, the airplane was repaired and the engine disposed of without a thorough examination being completed. The reason for the loss of oil was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N200D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N200D), registered now, S/N 379, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 200D - Registry model: [Aero Commander 200D](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-200d) (registry code 0140312) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 379 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 2264.4 - Engines: Continental IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2014, 12 hours before - Departed: CWF, LAKE CHARLES, LA - Destination: T82, FREDERICKSBURG, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 3T5, Fayette Rgnl Air Center ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,420 total, 388.7 in this make and model, 21.7 in the last 90 days, 10.3 in the last 30 days, 7.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: K3T5, 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 20140527007909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140527007909A), May 27, 2014: Aero Commander 200D, La Grange, TX, Substantial damage. In route from klch, lake charles regional to T82, gillespie county, while at cruise altitude, the pilot reported a loud bang followed by a very rough running… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89301. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 Damage overview (item 2, .PDF, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Damage%20overview-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Engine damage (item 3, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Engine%20damage-Master.PDF - CEN14LA263 mfr (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CEN14LA263%20MFR-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.