# NTSB SEA93LA047: Aero Commander AC-500B, N2783Q, Billings, MT, December 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1992, 01:05 local (08:05 UTC)
- Place: Billings, MT
- Location: 45.8078° N, 108.5435° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BILLINGS LOGAN INTL (BIL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8078&lon=-108.5435&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42974/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA047

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON BOTH ENGINES FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR NOT DOWN AND LOCKED ON TOUCHDOWN.

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED LOSS OF POWER ON LEFT ENGINE DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF AND HE INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE ARPT FOR LANDING.  HE REPORTED LOSS OF POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND AND HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING.  THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RWY BEFORE THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED, AND THE GEAR COLLAPSED. BOTH ENGINES PRODUCED FULL POWER WHEN TESTED ABOUT 45 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT.  EXAM OF THE ACFT AFTER THE MISHAP DID NOT REVEAL A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE THAT CAUSED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of engine power, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - all engines
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear - unlocked (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2783Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2783Q-1995-04-12), registration cancelled 1995-04-12, S/N 1387140 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER AC-500B
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1387-140
- Airframe hours: 10460
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-E1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Corporate Air
- Registered owner: Corporate Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 6, 1992, 64 hours before
- Destination: OLF, WOLF POINT, MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BIL, Billings, runway 25, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,039 total, 660 in this make and model, 1,893 as pilot in command, 163 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: -9 °F, dew point -0 °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 19921229051899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921229051899A), Dec 29, 1992: Gulstm 500B, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. Reported power loss left engine on climbout. Made 180. Landed short. Left main gear not locked collapsed.

## Other investigations on N2783Q (1)

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 ATL81FA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA102), Jul 29, 1981: Aero Comdr 500B (N2783Q), Louisville, KY, 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.