NTSB Factual Report

On July 26, 2018, about 0950 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 560, N2705B, operated by Tipton Tampico LLC, was substantially damaged during landing at Bob Sikes Airport (CEW), Crestview, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured. The ferry flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Orange County Airport (ORG), Orange, Texas about 0645.

The pilot reported that the airplane was operating with a ferry permit after purchase and a with the intent of relocating the airplane to a new home base for additional maintenance; the airplane had not previously flown since 2011. The first ferry flight originated in Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona on July 24, 2018. The pilot reported that after departure, the right engine was operating with low rpm so he elected to return to SDF to troubleshoot the problem. While setting up for landing, he received two green landing gear lights; the right main landing gear light did not illuminate. After recycling the landing gear, he visually confirmed the landing gear was down, but he still did not have a green indication for the right main landing gear. After troubleshooting the issue and still being unable to get all but the right main landing gear light on, but with visual confirmation that the right main landing gear was extended, he reported that the best option was to land. During the landing flare, the landing gear warning horn sounded as he flared, but he made an uneventful landing and parked the airplane for additional maintenance work to be performed.

On July 25, 2018, the following day, the pilot departed SDL and flew directly to Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB), Lubbock, Texas for a fuel stop then proceeded to ORG where he landed and reported no issues with the engines or landing gear. On July 26, 2018, the pilot departed ORG about 0645 and flew directly to CEW. During the approach to runway 17, the pilot reported everything was normal, but during the touchdown, as the nose landing gear was settling down onto the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right side of the fuselage and engine struck the runway pavement and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway into the grass.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the bottom right side of the fuselage was torn open and several wing ribs were damaged. In addition, the right engine pylon was damaged.

According to FAA records and the pilot, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on June 26, 2017. The pilot reported 1,985 total hours of flight experience with 345 total hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

The airplane was manufactured in 1955. It was a seven-place, internally braced high-wing airplane, that was equipped with tricycle landing gear, and two Lycoming GO-480-B, 270-horsepower engines driving Hartzell three-blade constant-speed propellers. The airplane had accumulated about 6,500 hours total time as of the date of the ferry permit and each engine had accumulated about 1,150 hours total time since overhaul.

The weather conditions reported at CEW, at 0953, included wind variable at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 2,200 ft, broken ceiling at 12,000 ft, temperature 31° C, dew point 23° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.00 inches of mercury.

The airplane was recovered and retained for additional examination.