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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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May 16, 1985 · Cessna 402 · N402CS

Pocatello, ID

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 16, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Pocatello, ID
Aircraft
Cessna 402
Tail Number
N402CS
Operator
Regional Express
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA85FA110

SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE & LEVEL OFF, THE PLT REPORTED AN ENG MALFUNCTION & INITIATED A RETURN TO THE ARPT. ABOUT 2 MIN LATER, HE REPORTED AN ENG FIRE & DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. APRX 1 MIN THEREAFTER, THE RGT WING SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT & THE PLANE CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EXTENSIVE INFLT FIRE DAMAGE IN THE AREA OF SEPARATION. A 2.5 BY 3 INCH HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE RGT INBOARD EXHAUST TUBE, PN 0850712-6. IT WAS ORIENTED TOWARD THE ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT WITHNUMEROUS FUEL & OIL LINES WHICH WERE FIRE DAMAGED & CHARRED. ALSO, MUCH OF THE ENG SUPPORT STRUCTURE & WING SPAR WERE MELTED IN THAT AREA. AN EXAM OF THE EXHAUST TUBE REVEALED ITS WALLS WERE THIN, BRITTLE & DISCOLORED IN THE AREA OF THE RUPTURE & SEVERAL AREAS OF CRACKS & SMALL HOLES WERE FOUND. THE EXHAUST TUBE HAD 5862 HRS OF TOTAL SERVICE & 1762 HOURS SINCE IT WAS OVERHAULED. RECORDS SHOWED THAT AD 75-23-08 HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH DURING THE LAST INSPECTION, 25 FLT HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE & LEVEL OFF, THE PLT REPORTED AN ENG MALFUNCTION & INITIATED A RETURN TO THE ARPT. ABOUT 2 MIN LATER, HE REPORTED AN ENG FIRE & DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. APRX 1 MIN THEREAFTER, THE RGT WING SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT & THE PLANE CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED EXTENSIVE INFLT FIRE DAMAGE IN THE AREA OF SEPARATION. A 2.5 BY 3 INCH HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE RGT INBOARD EXHAUST TUBE, PN 0850712-6. IT WAS ORIENTED TOWARD THE ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT WITHNUMEROUS FUEL & OIL LINES WHICH WERE FIRE DAMAGED & CHARRED. ALSO, MUCH OF THE ENG SUPPORT STRUCTURE & WING SPAR WERE MELTED IN THAT AREA. AN EXAM OF THE EXHAUST TUBE REVEALED ITS WALLS WERE THIN, BRITTLE & DISCOLORED IN THE AREA OF THE RUPTURE & SEVERAL AREAS OF CRACKS & SMALL HOLES WERE FOUND. THE EXHAUST TUBE HAD 5862 HRS OF TOTAL SERVICE & 1762 HOURS SINCE IT WAS OVERHAULED. RECORDS SHOWED THAT AD 75-23-08 HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH DURING THE LAST INSPECTION, 25 FLT HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:26 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionIflt

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 402
Tail NumberN402CS
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRegional Express
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-E · Reciprocating · 300
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 15 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:49
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data