# NTSB MIA90FA166: Rockwell 680-E, N599BB, Titusville, FL, August 5, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1990, 09:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place: Titusville, FL
- Coordinates: 28.58053, -80.820007 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5805&lon=-80.8200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32564
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32564/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA166

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT WITH A KNOWN UNAIRWORTHY MECHANICAL CONDITION RESULTING IN A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - 1 engine
  - maintenance - not performed, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine assembly - overtemperature (cause)
  - powerplant controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - propeller governor control,cable - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,piston - failure,total (cause)
- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - all engines
  - engine assembly - overtemperature (cause)
- Fire, cruise
  - induction air control,intake manifold - loose (cause)
  - engine compartment - fire (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

ABOUT 5-10 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT LEANED THE MIXTURE ON A ROUGH RUNNING ENG. ABOUT 30 MIN LATERFTER THE LEFT ENG BEGAN TO OVERSPEED. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO FEATHER THE PROP. THE PLT RETURNED TOWARD THE DEPARTURE POINT WITH MAX POWER ON THE RIGHT ENG. UNABLE TO REACH THE ARPT, AN EMERG LANDING WAS MADE ON A HIGHWAY, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. LAST ANNUAL WAS IN 1978. LEFT PROP START LOCK PIN BLADE L3 CORRODED, IN EXT PSN. LEFT PROP PITCH CONTROL CABLE SEPARATED, FRAYED, CORRODED. GENERAL DETERIORATION OF PISTON RINGS AND #6 CONROD. RIGHT PROP GOVERNOR CONTROL CABLES CORRODED, FRAYED. RIGHT ENG #5 INTAKE PIPE CONNECTION AND HOSE MISSING. ALL COMPRESSION RINGS PISTONS #1 AND #5 SEVERELY WORN, TOP TWO COMPRESSION RINGS PISTON #2 SEIZED. NO RECORD THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY AN A&P MECHANIC OR FAA APPROVED AIRFRAME REPAIR STATION. PLT STATED FLIGHT MANUAL NOT AVAILABLE OR USED DURING GROUND OR FLIGHT OPERATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N599BB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N599BB-1995-12-14), registration cancelled 1995-12-14, S/N 68037257 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rockwell 680-E
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 680-E](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680-e) (registry code 0141604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680-372-57
- Engines: LYCOMING GSO-480-B1A6 340 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gordon Brumm
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1978, 1 hours before
- Destination: UNKNOWN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,000 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TIX, 1 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 19900805030229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900805030229A), Aug 5, 1990: Gulstm 680E, Titusville, FL, Destroyed. Incorrectly leaned mixtures for rough engines. Runaway prop. Crash landed. Prop cable broke. Engine not airworthy.

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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