Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Operator:

Tomar Airways

Registration:

N6878S

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bayport - Islip

MSN:

680-409-85

YOM:

1956

Location:

Bayport

New York

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4000

Aircraft flight hours:

4967

Circumstances:

At about 60 feet agl black smoke was observed coming from the left engine. The aircraft continued a climb in a nose high attitude and the nose pitched down and the aircraft rolled inverted. Engine teardown revealed extensive damage to the supercharger assembly. The impeller shaft was bent and its associated bearing damaged. The aircraft had not flown for about 14 years. Engine service instructions describe pre-oiling of the supercharger drive shaft bearing after any prolonged period of inactivity. The owner, a paraplegic, was seated in the left seat. The pilot seated in the right seat had a history of heart and pulmonary disease. The gear and flaps were in the down position. Prior to departure, a witness asked the owner 'are you doing the elevators and ailerons and is he your rudders.' the owner responded with 'we have an arrangement'. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power(total) - mechanical failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
1. (c) maintenance, service bulletin/letter - not followed - company maintenance personnel
2. (c) engine assembly, blower/impeller/integral supercharger - failure, total
3. (c) maintenance, lubrication - not performed - company maintenance personnel
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
4. (c) aircraft handling - uncontrolled - pilot in command
5. (c) incapacitation (other cardiovascular) - pilot in command
6. (c) airspeed (VMC) - not possible - unqualified person
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Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680F in Norman: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1983 at 0819 LT

Type of aircraft:

Kansas Aircraft Corporation

Operator:

Registration:

N6139X

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Norman-University of Oklahoma Westheimer

Schedule:

Dallas – Norman – Wichita

MSN:

680-0920-2

YOM:

1960

Location:

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed after starting a go-around or aborted landing at Norman, OK. The aircraft was on a cross-country flight from Dallas to Wichita. There was no radio communication with the aircraft after it was cleared to land. The approach looked ok but on short final the aircraft suddenly turned right, leveled then entered a steep climbing right turn and continue to roll until inverted then pitched nose down until crashing. The pilot in the right seat had reportedly worked late the night before installing what appeared to be an auxiliary fuel system in the cabin. The aircraft had just been sold and the identity and location of the owner was not established. No one claimed the wreckage. Evidence revealed that both propellers were rotating at high rpm at impact. The fire after impact burned most intensely and persistently in the center of the cabin where the remains of what appeared to be an auxiliary fuel system were found. No pre-impact malfunctions or failures were found. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: go-around (VFR)
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Monticello: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1983 at 1723 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Geodata International

Registration:

N271VT

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cortez - Monticello

MSN:

680-1435-74

YOM:

1964

Location:

Monticello

Utah

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12200

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed while doing magnetometer surveys at low altitude. The right engine had lost power then regained it for a short period and lost it again. A videotape in the aircraft recorded the pilot saying, 'I changed that # just in time.' the aircraft yawed and the propeller slowed at the same time. The fuel selector valves were found on the center tanks. The boost pump switches were found in the off position. When changing from outboard to center tanks the boost pumps must be on or fuel starvation will occur. As the aircraft slowed the tape revealed that the copilot called out 'down to 90'. 90 mph is VMC. The aircraft stalled, shortly after the asymmetrical thrust rolled the aircraft to the right and into the ground. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) fluid,fuel - starvation
2. (c) fuel tank selector position - delayed - pilot in command
3. (c) inattentive - pilot in command
4. (c) fuel boost pump selector position - not selected - pilot in command
5. (c) diverted attention - pilot in command
6. (c) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
7. (c) airspeed (VMC) - not maintained - pilot in command
8. (c) stall - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Titusville: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1983 at 1205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Roger Franklin Brumley

Registration:

N6880S

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Eufaula - North Perry

MSN:

680-0403-80

YOM:

1956

Location:

Titusville

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1700

Circumstances:

Witnesses saw the aircraft briefly before it crashed. One witness saw the aircraft flying toward a dark cloud at an unknown altitude, but too high to fly under it. Shortly thereafter, he heard the engine noise increase and decrease, then increase until it was loud. He then heard what sounded like an explosion. He did not see the crash, but saw smoke from the crash site. A woman close to the crash site said the weather was very windy, heavy rain was falling and visibility was restricted. An examination of the wreckage revealed the outboard wing panels had failed from positive overloads and the left horizontal stabilizer had failed downward. These parts were found 3/4 to 1 mile from the main wreckage. Prior to the flight, a passenger, who paid for fuel and minor maintenance, said the purpose of the flight was for surveying. However, no surveying equipment was on board. Sheriff personnel said the aircraft was under surveillance for an illegal operation.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
1. (f) judgment - poor - pilot in command
2. (f) qualification - pilot in command
3. (c) flight into known adverse weather - initiated - pilot in command
4. (f) weather condition - thunderstorm
5. (f) weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms)
6. (c) VFR flight into IMC - continued - pilot in command
7. (f) overconfidence in personal ability - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
8. (c) aircraft handling - not maintained - pilot in command
9. (c) spatial disorientation - pilot in command
10. (f) lack of total instrument time - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
11. (c) design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded - pilot in command
12. Wing - overload
13. Wing - separation
14. Horizontal stabilizer surface - overload
15. Horizontal stabilizer surface - separation
----------
Occurrence #4: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680E in Sitio Alimit: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

C-FPDA

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

680-0735-35

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FLP in Sunbury: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1983 at 1202 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Robert G. Mainhardt

Registration:

N12LF

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Teterboro - Clintonville

MSN:

680-1491-12

YOM:

1965

Location:

Sunbury

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5650

Captain / Total hours on type:

300.00

Aircraft flight hours:

5052

Circumstances:

At approximately 0928 est, the pilot obtained a FSS weather briefing by telephone. He was briefed on conditions of low ceilings, fog, light rain, drizzle, snow and blowing snow along his route. However, he did not ask about icing conditions and the briefing did not include a fight precaution for icing nor a sigmet (issued at 0820 est) which forecasted moderate to severe mixed icing. While en route, the pilot made several altitude changes by request. When he was queried about a heading deviation, he replied 'we're having a little problem.' this was the last radio contact. ATC received no radio calls concerning icing problems or an emergency. Witnesses near the crash site saw the aircraft come out of the clouds in a near vertical descent, rotating in a nose down attitude, then impact and burn. Airframe ice up to 1/2 inch thick was found on/near parts that were not fire damaged.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - icing conditions
2. (c) preflight briefing service - inadequate - ATC personnel (FSS)
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
3. (c) in-flight planning/decision - inadequate - pilot in command
4. (c) wing - ice
5. (c) stabilizer - ice
6. (c) aircraft performance - deteriorated
7. (c) stall/spin - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680F in Pretoria

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Deelgroei

Registration:

ZS-KAU

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Site: