- Date
- August 4, 1993, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- England, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5570XAero Commander S2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 15, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930804027649A
- Case key
- 18808
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 partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
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
During the initial climb a partial power loss occurred and the airplane could not sustain flight. As the chemical load was being dumped, the airplane landed hard aprx 100 ft beyond the departure end of the runway collapsing the left main gear. Post-impact fire consumed the airframe. On 9/14 an engine test run was conducted with the carburetor, engine governor, and propeller intact. During the aprx 15 min test run, there were no RPM fluctuations or engine anomalies. The pilot reported that there had been previous discrepancies regarding propeller RPM control; maintenance personnel had not been able to determine the cause of the malfunction.
Factual narrative
On August 4, 1993, at approximately 1530 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N5570X, sustained substantial damage near England, Arkansas, following a partial loss of engine power during the initial takeoff climb. The main gear separated from the airframe as the airplane groundlooped during the forced landing. The commercial pilot did not receive injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned local aerial application flight.
During interviews, conducted by the investigator in charge, the pilot stated that the hopper contained approximately 20 pounds of chemical fertilizer and the fuel tanks were approximately half full for the spraying run. He further reported that during the initial climb, with an RPM decrease of approximately 150, the airplane could not sustain flight. As the load was being dumped, the airplane landed hard approximately 100 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The pilot exited the airplane and returned to the hangar. Company personnel went to the airplane and initiated a recovery. Approximately two hours after the accident, the airplane was consumed by fire.
The pilot reported in an enclosed statement that there had been previous discrepancies regarding propeller RPM control. Maintenance personnel had not been able to determine the cause for the malfunction.
On September 14, 1993, the engine was tested. The engine test run was conducted with the carburetor, engine governor, and propeller intact. During an approximate 15 minute test run, there were no RPM fluctuations or engine anomalies.
The airplane was released to the owner's representative following the investigation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5570X
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1770R
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- England Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 5, 1993
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
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 5,700 total · 350 in this make and model · 50 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.