- Date
- March 23, 1995, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Gillett, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5561XAero Commander S2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950323005309A
- Case key
- 19376
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
The engine main rod bearing seized to the crankshaft due to worn master rod metal pieces blocking the oil passages. A factor was an engine overhaul was not performed by company maintenance personnel.
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 an aerial application pass the engine oil pressure dropped to 40 PSI and the engine lost all power. The airplane slid into trees during the forced landing. An engine teardown revealed that the engine oil passages were blocked by pieces of metal worn from the main rod bearing which was seized to the crankshaft. Gear splines were separated from the cam gear and cam gear drive. The condition was described as 'typical of a high time bearing failure.' The engine had 1,549 hours since overhaul. Tbo was 1,200 hours.
Factual narrative
On March 23, 1995, at 0815 central standard time, an Aero Commander S2R, N5561X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Gillett, Arkansas. The commercial pilot did not receive injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight.
During an interview, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, and on the enclosed Pilot/Operator report, the pilot revealed the information in this paragraph. Upon completing the third swath and applying throttle, the engine power did not increase and the oil pressure dropped to 40 PSI. During the forced landing, as the pilot banked the airplane to the right, in order to avoid trees, the main gear collapsed as it struck the ground. Subsequently, the airplane slid into trees and the outboard 6 feet of the left wing was bent upward.
The operator reported that an engine teardown was performed at Covington Aviation of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Vice President/Chief of Covington Engines (statement enclosed) reported that the main rod bearing was plated with silver and lead; however, with a high time bearing the metal wears and pieces of the metal stop up the oil passages and the bearing seizes on the crankshaft. The operator reported that this engine had 1,549 hours since the last overhaul. The manufacture's recommended time before overhaul (TBO) is 1,200 hours. Pieces of metal were found in the oil passages, the main rod bearing was seized to the crankshaft, and gear splines were separated from the cam gear and cam gear drive.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5561X
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1761R
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-A, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Vizzier, Douglas D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 11, 1995 · 79 hours before
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
- 69
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 14,000 total · 800 in this make and model · 60 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °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.