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NTSB Report
July 20, 1983 · Aero Commander 685 · N3711T
Cleveland, OH
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 20, 1983
Injury Outcomes
6 injuries (6 fatalities)
Location
Cleveland, OH
Aircraft
Aero Commander 685
Tail Number
N3711T
Operator
Technical Computer Services
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI83AA326
WHILE TURNING FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE LEG, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING RAPIDLY IN A STEEP BANK. WITNESSES REPORTED SMOKE WAS TRAILING FROM THE ACFT. THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA. AN EXAM OF THE RIGHT ENG REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST-TO-TURBO ADAPTER, PN 641829, HAD FRACTURED & SEPARATED. THE FRACTURE WAS A RESULT OF THERMAL FATIGUE & IT HAD PROPAGATED ACROSS MORE THAN 95% OF THE AREA BEFORE FINAL SEPARATION HAD OCCURRED. SINCE AN EXAM OF THE COWLING & BOTH ENGINES SHOWED NO STREAKING HEAT OR SMOKE PATTERNS, THE REPORTED 'SMOKE' WAS ATTRIBUTED TO EXHAUST GAS. WHILE THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER IN THE RIGHT ENG, NO OTHER ACFT MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.
Full Narrative
WHILE TURNING FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE LEG, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING RAPIDLY IN A STEEP BANK. WITNESSES REPORTED SMOKE WAS TRAILING FROM THE ACFT. THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA. AN EXAM OF THE RIGHT ENG REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST-TO-TURBO ADAPTER, PN 641829, HAD FRACTURED & SEPARATED. THE FRACTURE WAS A RESULT OF THERMAL FATIGUE & IT HAD PROPAGATED ACROSS MORE THAN 95% OF THE AREA BEFORE FINAL SEPARATION HAD OCCURRED. SINCE AN EXAM OF THE COWLING & BOTH ENGINES SHOWED NO STREAKING HEAT OR SMOKE PATTERNS, THE REPORTED 'SMOKE' WAS ATTRIBUTED TO EXHAUST GAS. WHILE THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER IN THE RIGHT ENG, NO OTHER ACFT MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:22 EDT
Nearest AirportCleveland Hopkins (1nm NE)
Runway23L
Runway Length9000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftAero Commander 685
Tail NumberN3711T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorTechnical Computer Services
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-K-1 · Reciprocating · 435
Seats8
People & Injuries
Injury Summary6 injuries (6 fatalities)
Fatal6
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total6
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 5000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC