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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 27, 1992 · Cessna 404 · N5429J

Tucson, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 27, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Tucson, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 404
Tail Number
N5429J
Operator
U S Customs Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93GA053

During a 2 hour and 40 minute training mission, the pilot maintained a low power setting with the fuel mix at full rich. After the mission, the pilot climbed the airplane to 9,000 feet AGL to clear obstacles between his location and his destination. During the descent, the pilot said he reduced power more rapidly than usual and descended faster than normal at about 180 KIAS. About 800 to 1,000 feet AGL, in the traffic pattern, the pilot applied power. Both engines lost total power. He set up an 85 KIAS glide; completed emergency procedures; and retracted the landing gear. The engines did not restart. He did not feather the propellers. He extended the landing gear prior to touchdown. The pilot said he did not flare the airplane during landing which resulted in the airplane colliding with the ground. The engine manual and the POH recommend adjusting the fuel mixture for cruise. An engine manual note states long descents at low power should be avoided because the engines may cool excessively and may not accelerate satisfactorily when power is reapplied. The POH recommends feathering propellers and gliding at 120 KIAS for dual engine failure. Soot was noted on all spark plugs during engine exam. Both engines started and ran normally from idle to full acceleration during the exam.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT DECISION TO DEVIATE FROM THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE MANUAL AND THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK BY MAINTAINING THE FUEL MIXTURE AT FULL RICH THROUGHOUT THE MISSION AND RAPIDLY DESCENDING THE AIRPLANE WHICH RESULTED IN BOTH ENGINE'S LOSING TOTAL POWER. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE 1) THE PILOT NOT FOLLOWING THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR BOTH ENGINES FAILING AS OUTLINED IN THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK, AND 2) THE PILOT NOT PERFORMING A FLARE DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

DURING A 2 HOUR AND 40 MINUTE TRAINING MISSION, THE PILOT MAINTAINED A LOW POWER SETTING WITH THE FUEL MIX AT FULL RICH. AFTER THE MISSION, THE PILOT CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO 9,000 FEET AGL TO CLEAR OBSTACLES BETWEEN HIS LOCATION AND HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE DESCENT, THE PILOT SAID HE REDUCED POWER MORE RAPIDLY THAN USUAL AND DESCENDED FASTER THAN NORMAL AT ABOUT 180 KIAS. ABOUT 800 TO 1,000 FEET AGL, IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE PILOT APPLIED POWER. BOTH ENGINES LOST TOTAL POWER. HE SET UP AN 85 KIAS GLIDE; COMPETED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES; AND RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR. THE ENGINES DID NOT RE START. HE DID NOT FEATHER THE PROPELLERS. HE EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT FLARE THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE ENGINE MANUAL AND THE POH RECOMMEND ADJUSTING THE FUEL MIXTURE FOR CRUISE. AN ENGINE MANUAL NOTE STATES LONG DESCENTS AT LOW POWER SHOULD BE AVOIDED BECAUSE THE ENGINES MAY COOL EXCESSIVELY AND MAY NOT ACCELERATE SATISFACTORILY WHEN POWER IS RE APPLIED. THE POH RECOMMENDS FEATHERING PROPELLERS AND GLIDING AT 120 KIAS FOR DUAL ENGINE FAILURE. SOOT WAS NOTED ON ALL SPARK PLUGS DURING ENGINE EXAM. BOTH ENGINES STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY FROM IDLE TO FULL ACCELERATION DURING THE EXAM.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:15 MST
Nearest AirportDavis Monthan Afb (1nm NNW)
Runway12
Runway Length13645 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 404
Tail NumberN5429J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorU S Customs Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GSTIO-520-M2B · Reciprocating · 375
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind40° @ 6 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 12 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data