AAIB Report: Rockwell Commander 112 TCA, N4698W
Fatal accident involving a Rockwell Commander 112 TCA, Kinglassie, Fife, 23 December 2024
Water recovered from the aircraft’s fuel system (fuel system diagram courtesy of Commander Aircraft Corp)
Shortly after takeoff from Fife Airport for a brief local flight, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the airport showed that the aircraft departed from controlled flight, possibly entering an incipient spin. Around the same time, CCTV in Kinglassie, one mile south-west of the airport, recorded the sound of an engine apparently misfiring and N4698W is seen to strike rising ground. Post-accident examination of N4698W’s fuel system revealed a significant amount of water contamination throughout the system. N4698W was kept outside at Fife Airport and further examination of the aircraft showed that the right-hand wing filler cap grommet was cracked and this could have allowed rain to enter the fuel system.
The AAIB released a Special Bulletin in March 2025 that contained preliminary information on the accident and clarified that it is possible that an entire fuel sample tube of water, drained from the fuel system, can still produce an odour of Aviation gasoline (Avgas) when smelled.
The CAA has also undertaken to review ‘Safety sense leaflet number 28: Fuel Handling and Storage’ to incorporate more detailed information for pilots on pre-flight fuel sampling techniques, including techniques to check that a sample is fuel rather than all water and to highlight to pilots the need to check all fuel drain points.
Further, one Safety Recommendation is made to Commander Aircraft Corporation to amend the aircraft maintenance manuals to provide specific inspection criteria for the acceptable condition of fuel tank rubber grommet seals.