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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 15, 1983 · Aero Commander 100-180 · N4006X

Bardstown, KY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 15, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Bardstown, KY
Aircraft
Aero Commander 100-180
Tail Number
N4006X
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL84LA021

The CFI stated that the student preflighted the ACFT. They climbed to 3,000 ft and were practicing basic instrument maneuvers when a power loss occurred. After maneuvering to clear obstructions, then S-turning to dissipate altitude, the CFI stalled the ACFT about 15 ft AGL and short of the intended field. After the accident, the CFI collected nearly a quart of water from the left fuel tank. The CFI stated that the ACFT had a history of collecting water in the (usually left) fuel tank. The ACFT was last refueled about 1 week before the accident, and had been outside exposed to several inches of rain in the interim. Despite the history of water-in-fuel problems with the ACFT, the CFI did not check the tanks for water after the heavy rain. The ACFT's type-certificate holder reported that the top of the filler neck, which is above the wing surface, should preclude fluid in the scupper from entering the filler neck. The bottom of the filler neck, however, is attached to the fuel tank top by 6 bolts and sealed with a gasket at the attachment point.

Full Narrative

THE CFI STATED THAT THE STUDENT PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT. THEY CLIMBED TO 3,000 FT & WERE PRACTICING BASIC INSTRUMENT MANEUVERS WHEN A POWER LOSS OCCURRED. AFTER MANEUVERING TO CLEAR OBSTRUCTIONS, THEN S-TURNING TO DISSIPATE ALTITUDE, THECFI STALLED THE ACFT ABOUT 15 FT AGL & SHORT OF THE INTENDED FIELD. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CFI COLLECTED NEARLY A QUART OF WATER FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE CFI STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD A HISTROY OF COLLECTING WATER IN THE (USUALLY LEFT) FUEL TANK. THE ACFT WAS LAST REFUELED ABOUT 1 WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, & HAD BEEN OUTSIDE EXPOSED TO SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN IN THE INTERIM. DESPITE THE HISTORY OF WATER-IN-FUEL PROBLEMS WITH THE ACFT, THE CFI DID NOT CHECK THE TANKS FOR WATER AFTER THE HEAVY RAIN. THE ACFT'S TYPE-CERTIFICATE HOLDER REPORTED THAT THE TOP OF THE FILLER NECK, WHICH IS ABOVE THE WING SURFACE, SHOULD PRECLUDE FLUID IN THE SCUPPER FROM ENTERING THE FILLER NECK. THE BOTTOM OF THE FILLER NECK, HOWEVER, IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK TOP BY 6 BOLTS & SEALED WITH A GASKET AT THE ATTACHMENT POINT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:55 EDT
Nearest Airport5nm E
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAero Commander 100-180
Tail NumberN4006X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A2F · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 43 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data