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June 24, 1989 · Cessna 401 · N8271F

Raleigh, NC

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 24, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Raleigh, NC
Aircraft
Cessna 401
Tail Number
N8271F
Operator
Harvey Montague
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL89LA169

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE RGT ENG LOST PWR AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU APRX 50' AGL. HE ELECTED TO SHUT DOWNBOTH ENGS & ABORT THE TAKEOFF BY LANDING WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. THE ACFT SKIDDED OFF THE RGT SIDE OF THE RWY. AN EXAM OF THE RGT ENG REVEALED HVY SOOTING OF THE SPARK PLUGS & EXHAUST SYS. WHEN THE RGT ENG WAS RESTARTED AFTER THE ACDNT, IT INITIALLY RAN ROUGH, APPEARED TO HAVE A RICH MIXTURE & BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE EXHAUST. EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE WAS NOTED. THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP WAS CHANGED, THEN THE ENG RAN NORMALLY. AN INSPN OF THE PUMP REVEALED THE LOW PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT BOLT COULD BE ROTATED WITH FINGERS. DISASSEMBLY OF THE PUMP DISCLOSED THE INTERNAL LOCK NUT WAS WORN & UNSERVICEABLE. MAINT RECORDS SHOWED THAT ENG PROBLEMS HAD BEEN RPRTD ON PREVIOUS FLTS. ON 6/21/89, THE (RIGHT ENG) TURBOCONTROLLER & FUEL PUMP WERE ADJUSTED FOR BOTH HIGH & LOW PRESSURES. PROCEDURES AT THE MAINT FACILITY FOR TURBOCHARGED ENGS WERE NOT IAW TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL SVC BULLETIN M89-10.

NTSB Probable Cause

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE RIGHT ENGINE (RICH MIXTURE). A POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE WORN/UNSERVICEABLE INTERNAL LOCK NUT IN THE FUEL PUMP.

Full Narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE RGT ENG LOST PWR AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU APRX 50' AGL. HE ELECTED TO SHUT DOWNBOTH ENGS & ABORT THE TAKEOFF BY LANDING WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. THE ACFT SKIDDED OFF THE RGT SIDE OF THE RWY. AN EXAM OF THE RGT ENG REVEALED HVY SOOTING OF THE SPARK PLUGS & EXHAUST SYS. WHEN THE RGT ENG WAS RESTARTED AFTER THE ACDNT, IT INITIALLY RAN ROUGH, APPEARED TO HAVE A RICH MIXTURE & BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE EXHAUST. EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE WAS NOTED. THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP WAS CHANGED, THEN THE ENG RAN NORMALLY. AN INSPN OF THE PUMP REVEALED THE LOW PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT BOLT COULD BE ROTATED WITH FINGERS. DISASSEMBLY OF THE PUMP DISCLOSED THE INTERNAL LOCK NUT WAS WORN & UNSERVICEABLE. MAINT RECORDS SHOWED THAT ENG PROBLEMS HAD BEEN RPRTD ON PREVIOUS FLTS. ON 6/21/89, THE (RIGHT ENG) TURBOCONTROLLER & FUEL PUMP WERE ADJUSTED FOR BOTH HIGH & LOW PRESSURES. PROCEDURES AT THE MAINT FACILITY FOR TURBOCHARGED ENGS WERE NOT IAW TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL SVC BULLETIN M89-10.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 EDT
Nearest AirportTriple "W" (0nm N)
Runway34
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 401
Tail NumberN8271F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHarvey Montague
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 10 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2300 ft
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:30
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data