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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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August 16, 1982 · Cessna 421B · N1969J

El Paso, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
August 16, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
El Paso, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 421B
Tail Number
N1969J
Operator
J D Abrams
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
FTW82IA331

N1969J is a 1974 Cessna 421B modified by a Riley conversion kit. The aircraft was descending through about 1900 ft MSL when, without previous warning, it yawed left. The pilot reported that the aircraft then immediately yawed severely to the right and began to produce a high-pitched whining noise. The right engine then exploded. Engine debris penetrated the cabin wall and windows and struck the pilot causing minor injuries. The pilot secured the right engine, feathered the propeller and landed at El Paso without further incident. Examination of the engine revealed that the power turbine wheel had disintegrated inflight. Internal examination revealed a broken N2 accessory idler gear which exhibited a fatigue fracture. A loose nut securing the N2 accessory idler gear and N2 speed disc allowed relative movement and wear of these parts. Fatigue of the idler gear caused a loss of drive to the overspeed governor and allowed the engine to overspeed. The manufacturer is redesigning the assembly.

Full Narrative

N1969J IS A 1974 CESSNA 421B MODIFIED BY A RILEY CONVERSION KIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING THROUGH ABOUT 1900 FT MSL WHEN, WITHOUT PREVIOUS WARNING, IT YAWED LEFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT THEN IMMEDIATELY YAWED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT AND BEGAN TO PRODUCE A HIGH-PITCHED WHINING NOISE. THE RIGHT ENGINE THEN EXPLODED. ENGINE DEBRIS PENETRATED THE CABIN WALL AND WINDOWS AND STRUCK THE PILOT CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT SECURED THE RT ENGINE, FEATHERED THE PROPELLER AND LANDED AT EL PASO WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE POWER TURBINE WHEEL HAD DISINTEGRATED INFLIGHT. INTERNAL EXAMINATION REVEALED A BROKEN N2 ACCESSORY IDLER GEAR WHICH EXHIBITED A FATIGUE FRACTURE. A LOOSE NUT SECURING THE N2 ACCESSORY IDLER GEAR AND N2 SPEED DISC ALLOWED RELATIVE MOVEMENT AND WEAR OF THESE PARTS. FATIGUE OF THE IDLER GEAR CAUSED A LOSS OF DRIVE TO THE OVERSPEED GOVERNOR AND ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO OVERSPEED. THE MANUFACTURER IS REDESIGNING THE ASSEMBLY.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time14:20 MDT
Nearest AirportEl Paso Int'L (0nm N)
Runway26
Runway Length9008 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421B
Tail NumberN1969J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorJ D Abrams
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsLycoming · LTP101-600A1A · Turboprop · 599
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 8 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:36

Appendix: Source Data