N5551M

On January 28, 2012, at 1023 central standard time, an Aero Commander 100, N5551M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field near Seguin, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received minor injuries. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight had just departed a private airstrip near Page, Texas, and was en route to Huber Airpark, Seguin, Texas.

According to the pilot, the engine lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot did not observe a mechanical noise, surging, or backfiring with the loss of engine power. During the forced landing to a field the airplane struck a wire fence and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was crushed and the firewall was wrinkled.

The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident reported that the airplane had not been flown since its last annual inspection in June of 2011. He stated that 10 gallons of fuel were added to the right wing and the purpose of the flight was to relocate the airplane to a nearby airport for more fuel. The pilot stated that the engine ran for 15 minutes on the ground, without any problems, prior to departure.

The weather and the field conditions where the airplane nosed over prevented the recovery of the airplane and hindered investigators in examining the engine and fuel system.

A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, located in the FAA's Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, dated 6/30/2009, revealed that the airplane was not operating in an area favorable for the formation of carburetor icing.