Aerospace Tech. Of Australia N22B accident near Richardsville, Kentucky, May 4, 1991
On May 4, 1991 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Aerospace Tech. Of Australia N22B, registered N5590M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richardsville, Kentucky. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BROUGHT ON BY A FAILURE OF THE NO.2 MAIN ENGINE BEARING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT POWER ON THE REMAINING ENGINE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1991 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Richardsville, Kentucky
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospace Tech. Of Australia N22B
- Registration
- N5590M · no longer on the register · serial 18
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST LEVELED AT FOUR THOUSAND FEET WHEN THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER. HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK TOWARD HIS DEPARTURE FIELD BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WITH THE REMAINING ENGINE. HE THEN ELECTED TO MAKE A GEAR UP LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS IT CAME TO A STOP IN THE GRASSY FIELD. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THROUGH THE FORWARD DOORS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,800 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 770 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 3, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,300 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C17B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BWG Bowling Green KY
- Destination: RAC Racine WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from BNA, 68 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.