# NTSB MIA98LA244: Aero Commander S2R, N3652X, Malone, FL, September 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 1998, 09:02 local (14:02 UTC) - Place: Malone, FL - Coordinates: 30.950962, -85.159561 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9510&lon=-85.1596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43908/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA244 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to a chaffed ignition wires, resulting in a forced landing and subsequent impact with trees. ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was approximately three miles west of the airstrip when the engine lost all power. He stated, '...I was 600 to 700 feet AGL., I first pushed the throttle to full power position then started pumping the wobble pump and got no response.' The pilot stated that he began looking for an area to land, he picked out an area between two trees. According to the pilot during the landing, the airplane went between two trees and the wings were sheared then he impacted the ground. The engine was examined November, 1998. The FAA inspector's report showed that the following was found, '...wiring to magnetos had shielding completely chaffed from [the] wires and bare wires were present where it passed through the firewall of the aircraft...non aircraft wiring and splices were installed in the aircraft...suspect magnetos were grounded in flight.' ## Factual narrative On September 9, 1998, about 0902 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N3652X, registered to a private individual, crashed near Malone, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from a private airstrip at about 0815. The pilot stated that he was about 3 miles west of the airstrip when the engine lost all power. He stated, "...I was 600 to 700 feet AGL., I first pushed the throttle to full power position then started pumping the wobble pump and got no response." The pilot stated that he began looking for an area to land, he picked out an area between two trees. According to the pilot, during the landing, the airplane went between two trees and the wings were sheared, then he impacted the ground. The engine was examined at Southerfield Aviation, Americus, Georgia, at the request of the NTSB, and under the supervision of the FAA, November 1998. The FAA inspector's report showed that the following was found, "...wiring to magnetos had shielding completely chaffed from [the] wires and bare wires were present where it passed through the firewall of the aircraft...non aircraft wiring and splices were installed in the aircraft...suspect magnetos were grounded in flight." ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - ignition system,ignition harness - chafed (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3652X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3652X-2000-09-13), registration cancelled 2000-09-13, S/N 1885R (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander S2R - Registry model: [Aero Commander S2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (registry code 0143022) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1885R - Airframe hours: 7759 - Engines: Pzl-Kalisz PZL-3S 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Leon J. Fussell - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 1998, 211 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 16,780 total, 1,550 in this make and model, 16,168 as pilot in command, 260 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MAI, 15 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 19980909029959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980909029959A), Sep 9, 1998: Ayres S2R, Malone, FL, Destroyed. (.4)The pilot stated that he was approximately three miles west of the airstrip when the engine lost all power. He stated, '...I was 600 to 700 feet AGL., I… ## Other investigations on N3652X (2) 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. - [NTSB FTW75FRD50](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FRD50), May 10, 1975: Snow 600S2R (N3652X), Oakdale, LA, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW74DRD29](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74DRD29), Apr 18, 1974: Aero Cmdr 600S2R (N3652X), Eunice, LA, substantial damage 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.