- Date
- June 6, 1990, 20:45 local (Jun 7, 1990, 01:45 UTC)
- Place
- Sisseton, SD
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5649XAero Commander S2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900606019019A
- Case key
- 17944
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
A total loss of power due to fuel starvation. Fuel starvation was caused by a missing fuel valve support clamp and a resultant cracked fuel line. Inadequate maintenance inspections and rough, uneven terrain were contributing factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had just finished spraying a wheat field and was in a left bank, pulling up from the swath run, when the engine lost power. The pilot was able to restore partial power by operating the wobble pump, but it was insufficient to sustain flight. During the ensuing forced landing, the right wing and landing gear were torn off, the propeller was bent, and the fuselage damaged. Adequate fuel was found in both fuel tanks. A brass nipple, connecting the fuel shut-off valve to the wobble pump, was found cracked and leaking fuel. The crack had propagated approximately two-thirds of its circumference. Additionally, the fuel valve support clamp, designed to relieve loads and stresses on the brass nipple, was missing. Examination of the maintenance records showed the last recorded annual inspection was performed on August 31, 1983.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5649X
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1849R
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Yammerino, James N., doing business as Reno Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Clinton State Bank
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · August 31, 1983
- Departed
- 8D3 · Sisseton, SD
- Airport
- NONE
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,859 total · 200 in this make and model · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
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 N5649X · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.