ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 65178
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| Date: | Monday 25 May 2009 |
| Time: | 08:46 |
| Type: |  Aero Commander 500S Shrike Commander |
| Owner/operator: | Commonwealth Aviation Corp |
| Registration: | N73U |
| MSN: | 3162 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1963 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3360 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-720 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Daytona Beach International Airport (KDAB) -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Daytona Beach, FL (DAB) |
| New Smyrna Bch, FL (EVB) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot departed in the twin-engine airplane with an unknown quantity of fuel and a fuel quantity indicating system that was known to be inaccurate. Immediately after takeoff, approximately 1/2 mile beyond the departure end of the runway, witnesses reported the engine noise from the accident airplane as "surging" as the airplane passed overhead, and one witness described a "radical" turn back to the airport. Two witnesses stated that only one engine was running, and added that it was "revving," and would then stop before revving up again. During the descent to the airport, radar data showed the airplane at 93 knots 700 feet and 1 mile from the runway, and at 90 knots at 500 feet and 1/2 mile from the runway, but the airplane crashed prior to the approach end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a preaccident mechanical malfunction. The fuel system had a capacity of 226 gallons, was serviced through a single port on top of the left wing, and the tanks were interconnected to a center fuel sump that fed both engines. The fuel cells were opened through access panels and each was intact and contained only trace amounts of fuel. The airplane was leveled, the drain petcock was opened at the center fuel cell sump, and 1 quart of fuel was drained.
Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-May-2009 12:09 | slowkid | Added |
| 25-May-2009 12:10 | slowkid | Updated |
| 25-May-2009 12:12 | slowkid | Updated |
| 26-May-2009 06:46 | slowkid | Updated |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 02-Dec-2017 14:53 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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