# NTSB CEN22LA429: Commander 114TC, N495TC, Savoy, TX, September 22, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 22, 2022, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Savoy, TX - Coordinates: 33.614118, -96.357604 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6141&lon=-96.3576&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 105986 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA429 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105986/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105986 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA429 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## 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: [Commander 114TC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0145002), [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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Commander 114TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0145002), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Commander 114TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0145002), [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: [Commander 114TC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0145002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane shuddered after he completed maneuvers in a local practice area. After the shudder recurred, he realized that the engine was “barely running.” The pilot’s efforts to restore engine power were not successful. He subsequently lowered the landing gear and executed a forced landing to a highway. The airplane encountered a highway median area during the landing and sustained damage to the outboard portion of the right wing and the right aileron. On-scene observation of the airplane indicated that the wing fuel tanks appeared to be full. A postrecovery examination of the engine and airframe fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2022, about 1530 central daylight time, a Commander 114TC airplane, N495TC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Savoy, Texas. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane shuddered after he completed maneuvers in a local practice area. After the shudder recurred, he realized that the engine was “barely running.” The pilot’s efforts to restore engine power were not successful. He subsequently lowered the landing gear and executed a forced landing to a highway. The airplane encountered a highway median area during the landing and sustained damage to the outboard portion of the right wing and the right aileron. On-scene observation of the airplane indicated that the wing fuel tanks appeared to be full. A postrecovery examination of the engine and airframe fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N495TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N495TC), registered now, S/N 20004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: COMMANDER AIRCRAFT CO 114TC - Registry model: [Commander 114TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/commander-114tc) (registry code 0145002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20004 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 2095.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-580-B1A 315 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2022, 16.8 hours before - Departed: TKI, Dallas, TX - Destination: TKI, Dallas, TX - Airport: N/A, N/A - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 3, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 379 total, 15 in this make and model, 375 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KTKI, 28 nm away - METAR: METAR KTKI 222053Z 23005KT 10SM CLR 36/08 A2995 ## 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 20220922021709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220922021709A), Sep 22, 2022: Commander Aircraft Co 114TC, Savoy, TX, Substantial damage. Flight was VFR tki-tki. Doing slow air work. Engine started to vibrate and run rough. Checked fuel switch and was on "both". Turned on aux pump, did not help.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105986. 23.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 8.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14853623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Stmt%20--%20CEN22LA429_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14854421&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN22LA429-Rel.pdf - Examination summary (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14920746&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN22LA429-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records -- engine (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 12.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14854431&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Engine_redacted-Rel.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.