Incident Aero Commander 500B C-GETK,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 178174
 
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Date:Friday 30 November 2007
Time:09:17 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic AC50 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Aero Commander 500B
Owner/operator:Hicks & Lawrence Limited
Registration: C-GETK
MSN: 500B-1093-56
Year of manufacture:1961
Engine model:Avco Lycoming IO-540-B1A5
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Location:20 nm SW Armstrong, Ontario -   Canada
Phase: En route
Nature:Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi
Departure airport:Dryden, Ontario
Destination airport:Geraldton, Ontario
Investigating agency: TSB
Confidence Rating: Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities
Narrative:
The flight was conducted under visual flight rules at 5500 feet above sea level with ambient temperatures aloft of -33°C. Approximately 40 minutes into the flight, the crew observed an abnormal right engine fuel flow indication. While troubleshooting the right engine, the engine rpm and fuel flow began to decrease and the crew diverted toward Armstrong, Ontario. A short time later, the left engine rpm and fuel flow began to decrease and the crew could no longer maintain level flight. At 0917 central standard time, the crew made a forced landing 20 nautical miles southwest of Armstrong, into a marshy wooded area. The captain sustained serious injuries and the co-pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The crew and passenger were stabilized and transported to Thunder Bay, Ontario, for medical assistance.

Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors
1.Suspended water in the fuel system precipitated out of solution and froze in the fuel distributor valve. This blocked the fuel supply to the fuel nozzles and led to the loss of engine power.
2.The aircraft was being operated without a fuel additive icing inhibiter. Use of such an additive would have inhibited ice formation in the aircraft's fuel system and would likely have prevented the fuel system blockage.

Findings as to Risk
1.The fuel distributor valve on the Aero Commander 500B is exposed directly to the cooling blast of the outside air, which under extremely cold conditions, can lead to the freezing of super-cooled water droplets present in the fuel stream.
2.The operator did not have procedures to describe how fuel additive icing inhibiter should be used during winter operations.

Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: TSB
Report number: A07C0225
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 6 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2007/a07c0225/a07c0225.asp

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
01-Aug-2015 12:23 Aerossurance Added

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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