Aero Commander 500-A N9382R
9 May 1998 · Billings, Montana, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 9 May 1998 at about 17:05 local time, a Aero Commander 500-A registered N9382R was involved in an accident near Billings, Montana, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 17:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Billings, Montana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Billings (BIL)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500-A
- Registration
- N9382R
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Minot
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA98LA073
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
Failure of the main landing gear strut outer-body to inner-body needle bearing from the lack of lubrication and the development of corrosion. An inadequate manufacturer's inspection program was a factor.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that, after takeoff, the left-main landing gear would not fully retract. The pilot stated that he then extended the landing gear and performed various emergency procedures in an attempt to fully extend the left-main. The pilot was unable to get the left-main to lock in the down position and elected to land the airplane with the right-main and nosewheel extended. During the landing roll, the left-main gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop. Inspection of the left-main landing gear revealed that the upper-main landing gear strut's outer-body to inner-body needle bearing had failed, and the lower needle bearing was near failure. The lack of lubrication in this area was noted, along with evidence of severe corrosion development. The Manufacturer's Inspection Program for this model aircraft does not address a calendar and/or time inspection interval, or lubrication interval for the upper and lower needle bearing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aero Commander 500 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jan 1998 | Aero Commander 500-B | Ennis, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 8 Jul 1997 | Aero Commander 500-B | Dallas, Texas, United States | M & M Aviation | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Mar 1999 | Aero Commander 500B | Shelter Cove, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Dec 1999 | Aero Commander 500 | Georgetown, South Carolina, United States | Thomas H. Hoffman | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 May 1999 | Aero Commander 500B | Atlantic Ocean | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jun 1999 | Aero Commander 500S | Windsor Locks, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 1998 | Mooney M20F | Lodgepole, Montana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 May 1998 | Piper PA-31T1 | Great Falls, Montana, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 7 Jun 1998 | Mooney M20A | Canyon Creek, Montana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Jun 1998 | Aero Commander 680FL | Helena, Montana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Apr 1998 | Piper PA-46-350P | Bigfork, Montana, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Jun 1998 | Cessna 340 | Lincoln, Montana, United States | Curtis M. Moeller | Fatal | 1 |