Accident Aero Commander S2R N5553X,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 297983
 
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Date:Tuesday 17 July 2018
Time:12:45 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic SS2P model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Aero Commander S2R
Owner/operator:Noe Aviation LLC
Registration: N5553X
MSN: 1753R
Year of manufacture:1973
Total airframe hrs:15680 hours
Engine model:Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1-G
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Vinton, Iowa -   United States of America
Phase: Approach
Nature:Agricultural
Departure airport:Vinton Veterans Memorial Airpark, IA (KVTI)
Destination airport:Vinton, IA
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The pilot stated that on final approach, he slowed the airplane for landing. When the airplane crossed the end of the runway, he reduced the throttle back, but the airplane would not slow, so he executed a go-around. During the go-around, the engine lost partial power and would not respond to the pilot's throttle inputs. The pilot then executed a forced landing in a cornfield, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage.

Examination of the throttle control system revealed that the interlocking teeth mechanisms between the carburetor lever stop assembly and the throttle control lever were worn and lost integrity to interconnect. The teeth on the lever stop assembly were severely worn. Thus, it is likely that during the accident flight, when the pilot actuated the throttle control lever, the throttle control system failed when the worn-down teeth on the lever stop would not engage the teeth on the mating throttle control lever. This caused a loss of the throttle lever input, which allowed the engine to enter a low rpm condition. The material examination also noted a mismatch in hardness of the associated parts; although the hardness values were typical for the respective part compositions and microstructures, the mismatch in hardness lent itself to higher wear rates. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the carburetor had been removed for overhaul and reinstalled 135 hours before the accident. It is likely that maintenance personnel reinstalled the worn parts without thoroughly inspecting them.

Probable Cause: Loss of throttle control input due to a failure in the throttle control system. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate inspection and reinstallation of worn parts by maintenance personnel.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN18LA278
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 3 years and 3 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB CEN18LA278

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
14 August 1984 N5553X William And Gary Hubler 0 Nampa, ID sub

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
15-Oct-2022 11:24 ASN Update Bot Added

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