# NTSB ERA23LA359: Aero Commander 500 S, N62WE, Key West, FL, August 13, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 13, 2023, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Key West, FL · 
Ocean
- Coordinates: 24.555059, -81.779984 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5551&lon=-81.7800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192998
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA359
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192998/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192998
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA359

## Probable cause

A total 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: [Aero Commander 500 S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0141107), [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.

- [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500 S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=0141107), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500 S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=0141107), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was enroute to the destination airport and overflying the Gulf of Mexico when about 15 nautical miles from the airport and at an altitude of 3,000 ft, the right engine suddenly lost power. The pilot described that about that time, the fuel totalizers indicated that 48 gallons of fuel were onboard, and his fuel quantity gauge indicated similarly. He then contacted air traffic control and declared an emergency. Shortly thereafter, the left engine also suddenly lost power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the issue and restart both engines but was unsuccessful. He subsequently ditched the airplane and was rescued from the water without injury. The airplane was not recovered and could not be examined after the accident, therefore the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62WE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62WE-2023-11-01), registration cancelled 2023-11-01, S/N 3317 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500 S
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500 S](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-s) (registry code 0141107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3317
- Airframe hours: 3997.9
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-E1B5 290 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540-E1B5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 2023
- Departed: X04, Apopka, FL
- Destination: EYW, Key West, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EYW
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 975 total, 338 in this make and model, 895 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KEYW, 13 nm away
- METAR: KEYW 131453Z 19011KT 10SM FEW028 32/26 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP177 T03170256 50020

## 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 20230813013739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230813013739A), Aug 13, 2023: Aero Commander 500 S, Key West, FL, Destroyed. At approximately 10:20 am, 15 NM, NE of keyw @ 3,000 ft AGL the right engine suddenly stopped, the fuel totalizers stated 48 gallons fuel, contacted ATC and…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192998. 14.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 9.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16236534&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=101423%20-%20Adam%20Barney%20NTSB%206120_1%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records (excerpts) (item 2, PDF, 13 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16660471&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N62WE%20MX%20Records%20excerpts_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.

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