Aero Commander 100 180 N3718X

Summary

On 14 June 2016 at about 14:45 local time, a Aero Commander 100 180 registered N3718X was involved in an accident near Port Lavaca, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 June 2016 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Port Lavaca, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Calhoun County (PKV)

Coordinates

28.6597, -96.4353

Aircraft

Aero Commander 100 180

Registration

N3718X

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Port Lavaca → Port Lavaca

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA249

Nobody was injured.

Loss of engine power due to failure of a connecting rod. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had departed on a local flight. He reported that, about 15 minutes after takeoff and when the airplane was about 1,100 ft above ground level, he felt a vibration and heard a "bang." The engine subsequently began to lose power. The oil pressure dropped to zero, the pilot heard another "bang," and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot executed a forced landing to a pasture, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane when the nose landing gear collapsed in soft ground. An engine examination revealed that the No. 4 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft. However, all fracture surfaces sustained secondary mechanical damage, which precluded further examination. The last engine overhaul was accomplished about 25 years before the accident. The engine manufacturer recommended engine overhauls every 12 years; however, the operator was not required to comply with that recommendation because the airplane was operated under Part 91. Given the available information, the reason for the connecting rod failure could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.