# NTSB FTW97LA224: Aero Commander 200D, N898LF, Little Rock, AR, June 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 1997, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Little Rock, AR - Coordinates: 34.730827, -92.230941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7308&lon=-92.2309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20244 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20244/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA224 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation from a partially blocked fuel line which was the result of improper maintenance by unknown person(s). A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel system,line - blocked(partial) (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, unknown (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was flying the airplane 'across town' to get some work done on the airplane when the engine's power began to 'fall off.' The pilot further stated that he picked a field to land in, but struck a wire on short final. The airplane landed with the gear up, and the outer one-third of the right wing was bent upwards. Postcrash examination of the engine revealed a 'sliver of the inner wall of the fuel line (between the fuel control and the fuel injection manifold) protruding between the inner ferrule and the nut at the manifold orifice. The pilot had reported to the FAA Inspector that the 'fuel pressure had been erratic during flight.' The FAA Inspector reported that 'hose assemblies should be visually checked, flushed, and pressure checked prior to installation.' ## Factual narrative On June 13, 1997, approximately 1420 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 200D, N898LF, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a power loss while on approach to Adams Field, near Little Rock, Arkansas. The private pilot, sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned/operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight which originated from North Little Rock, Arkansas, approximately 20 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, the "airplane's right fuel tank had just been worked on." He stated that he was flying the airplane "across town" to get some additional work done on the airplane when the engine's power began to "fall off." The pilot further stated that he picked a field to land in, but struck a wire on short final. The airplane landed with the gear up, and the outer one-third of the right wing was bent upwards. Postcrash examination of the engine by an FAA Inspector and a representative of the engine's manufacturer revealed a "sliver of the inner wall of the fuel line (between the fuel control and the fuel injection manifold) protruding between the inner ferrule and the nut at the manifold orifice. The pilot had reported to the FAA Inspector that the "fuel pressure had been erratic during flight." The FAA Inspector reported to the Investigator-In-Charge that "hose assemblies should be visually checked, flushed and pressure checked prior to installation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N898LF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N898LF-2023-03-04), registration cancelled 2023-03-04, S/N 323, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 200D - Registry model: [Aero Commander 200D](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-200d) (registry code 0140312) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 323 - Engines: Continental IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald M. Coller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 1997 - Departed: 1M1, N. LITTLE ROCK, AR - Destination: LIT, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 248 total, 89 in this make and model, 215 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 28,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LIT, 4 nm away ## 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 19970613046389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970613046389A), Jun 13, 1997: Propjt 200D, Rose City, AR, No damage. (-23) History of flight: on June 13, 1997, at approximately 1400 CDT, an aerocommander, 200D, N898LF, operated by harold s. settle crashed on approach to… 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.