SISSETON, SD, USA
N5649X
AERO COMMANDER S2R
THE PILOT HAD JUST FINISHED SPRAYING A WHEAT FIELD AND WAS IN A LEFT BANK, PULLING UP FROM THE SWATH RUN, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RESTORE PARTIAL POWER BY OPERATING THE WOBBLE PUMP, BUT IT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT. DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING, THE RIGHT WING AND LANDING GEAR WERE TORN OFF, THE PROPELLER WAS BENT, AND THE FUSELAGE DAMAGED. ADEQUATE FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH FUEL TANKS. A BRASS NIPPLE, CONNECTING THE FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVE TO THE WOBBLE PUMP, WAS FOUND CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL. THE CRACK HAD PROPAGATED APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUEL VALVE SUPPORT CLAMP, DESIGNED TO RELIEVE LOADS AND STRESSES ON THE BRASS NIPPLE, WAS MISSING. EXAMINATION OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWED THE LAST RECORDED ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 31, 1983.
A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. FUEL STARVATION WAS CAUSED BY A MISSING FUEL VALVE SUPPORT CLAMP AND A RESULTANT CRACKED FUEL LINE. INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS AND ROUGH, UNEVEN TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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