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NTSB Report
September 11, 1989 · Aero Commander 680FLP · N22LR
Kailua-Kona, HI
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 11, 1989
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Kailua-Kona, HI
Aircraft
Aero Commander 680FLP
Tail Number
N22LR
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX89FA307
As the acft was depg fm rwy 17, smoke was observed coming fm the rgt eng. The plt confirmed a loss of pwr & made a rgt turn back toward the rwy, then rprtd he had 'lost both engines.' The acft was extensively dmgd during a lndg on rough, rocky trrn abt 1/4 mi sw of the rwy threshold. Investigation revealed the acft had just changed ownership. During pre-purchase inspn in Florida, metal particles were fnd in the oil screens of both engs. Oil was chgd & flushed, but metal particles were fnd after another eng run. In May 1989, the rgt eng was replaced with an eng fm another acft. The acft was flown to Oakland, CA, where it was painted & new interior was installed. A lcl mech noted metal particles in both eng oil screens & rcmndd oil analysis, but ferrying plt refused. After flt to Hawaii, no oil stain noted on fuselage bfrflt on 9/9/89. Exam of wreckage revealed both engs failed fm detonation. Hvy oil streaks fnd bhnd rgt eng, some streaks of oil fnd bhnd left eng. Rgt eng crankshaft/rod brg surface was 0.010' under standard, but rod brgs were standard size.
NTSB Probable Cause
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION BY THE PILOT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: EXCESSIVE WEAR IN BOTH ENGINES, IMPROPER USE OF POWERPLANT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT, SUBSEQUENT OVERTEMPERATURE/DETONATION IN BOTH ENGINES, IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BY THE PILOT (INCLUDING PREMATURE GEAR EXTENSION AND/OR FAILURE TO PROPERLY REDUCE DRAG ON THE AIRCRAFT AFTER LOSS OF ENGINE POWER), AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MULTI-ENGINE AND THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
Full Narrative
AS THE ACFT WAS DEPG FM RWY 17, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FM THE RGT ENG. THE PLT CONFIRMED A LOSS OF PWR & MADE A RGT TURN BACK TOWARD THE RWY, THEN RPRTD HE HAD 'LOST BOTH ENGINES.' THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DMGD DURING A LNDG ON ROUGH, ROCKY TRRN ABT 1/4 MI SW OF THE RWY THRESHOLD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD JUST CHANGED OWNERSHIP. DURING PRE- PURCHASE INSPN IN FLORIDA, METAL PARTICLES WERE FND IN THE OIL SCREENS OF BOTH ENGS. OIL WAS CHGD & FLUSHED, BUT METAL PARTICLES WERE FND AFTER ANOTHER ENG RUN. IN MAY 1989, THE RGT ENG WAS REPLACED WITH AN ENG FM ANOTHER ACFT. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN TO OAKLAND, CA, WHERE IT WAS PAINTED & NEW INTERIOR WAS INSTALLED. A LCL MECH NOTED METAL PARTICLES IN BOTH ENG OIL SCREENS & RCMNDD OIL ANALYSIS, BUT FERRYING PLT REFUSED. AFTER FLT TO HAWAII, NO OIL STAIN NOTED ON FUSELAGE BFRFLT ON 9/9/89. EXAM OF WRECKAGE REVEALED BOTH ENGS FAILED FM DETONATION. HVY OIL STREAKS FND BHND RGT ENG, SOME STREAKS OF OIL FND BHND LEFT ENG. RGT ENG CRANKSHAFT/ROD BRG SURFACE WAS 0.010' UNDER STANDARD, BUT ROD BRGS WERE STANDARD SIZE.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:18 HST
Nearest AirportKEAHOLE (0nm N)
Runway17
Runway Length6500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftAero Commander 680FLP
Tail NumberN22LR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IGSO-540-B1A · Reciprocating · 380
Seats8
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 30 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 6 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:50
Weather SourceWFAC