Aero Commander 500 S N73U

Summary

On 25 May 2009 at about 12:46 local time, a Aero Commander 500 S registered N73U, operated by Commonwealth Aviation Corp, was involved in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 2009 at 12:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Daytona Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Daytona International Airport (DAB)

Coordinates

29.1847, -81.0464

Aircraft

Aero Commander 500 S

Registration

N73U

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Commonwealth Aviation Corp

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Daytona Beach → New Smyrna Bch

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09FA303

1 person died.

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.