# NTSB FTW95LA145: Aero Commander S2R, N5561X, Gillett, AR, March 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 23, 1995, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Gillett, AR - Coordinates: 34.110595, -91.369071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1106&lon=-91.3691&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19376/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA145 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - engine assembly,master rod - worn (cause) - maintenance,overhaul,major - not performed, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - lubricating system,oil port/passage,internal - blocked(partial) (cause) - engine assembly,bearing - seized (cause) - engine assembly,gear - separation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5561X-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 1761R, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER S2R - Registry model: [Aero Commander S2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (registry code 0143022) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1761R - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950323005309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950323005309A), Mar 23, 1995: Ayres S2RR1340REST, Gillette, AR, Substantial damage. On swath run oil pressure zero. Engine quit. Slid into trees. High time bearing failure. Blocked oil. Engine siezed 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.