# Accident 19990815024639A: Cessna 337, Edgewood, NM, August 15, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 1999, 09:20 local time
- Place: Edgewood, NM
- Airport: Sandia Airpark Estates Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0805° N, 106.1710° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0805&lon=-106.1710&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99MH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99MH-2005-12-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 337 (registry code 2075702, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-360 series (registry code 17025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 337
- Reported engine: CONT IO360C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,437 total, 201 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN99LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990815024639A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON AUGUST 15, 1999, APPROXIMATELY 0920 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 337, N99MH, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR EDGEWOOD, NEW MEXICO. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91.  THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED JUST MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF BELEN, NEW MEXICO. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING CLIMBOUT THE REAR ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER.  THE PILOT TURNED AROUND AND TRIED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPARK, BUT THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. (-23) PILOT STATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPARTURE, LOST POWER (PARTIALLY) ON REAR ENGINE.  PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO AIRPORT AND MAKE A DOWNWIND LANDING.  DURING THIS PROCESS, PILOT BELIEVED HE HAD "MADE THE AIRPORT".  LANDING GEAR WAS THEN LOWERED.  AFTER LOWERING THE GEAR, THE PILOT THEN DECIDED HE COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT AND, INSTEAD, WOULD "CRASH UNDER CONTROL".  AIRCRAFT IMPACTED/SKIDDED INTO TERRAIN ABOUT .3 MILE WEST/SOUTHWEST OF SANDIA AIRPARK.  SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT.  NO INJURIES.  POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED SAFETY WIRE ON THE REAR PROP CONTROL CABLE HAD BROKEN, WHICH ALLOWED THE PROP CONTROL CABLE TO "FLEX" WHEN THE RPM WAS REDUCED AFTER T/OFF.  (.4) DURING CLIMBOUT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE REAR ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER (1,700 RPM).  THE PILOT STARTED TO TURN AROUND AND RETURN TO THE AIRPARK, BUT CHANGED HIS MIND AND DECIDED TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY LANDING IN A ROUGH AND UNEVEN BUT OPEN FIELD.  POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE SAFETY WIRE SECURING THE PROPELLER CONTROL CABLE TO THE SUPPORT BRACKET HAD BROKEN, ALLOWING THE CABLE HOUSING TO FLEX WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.  WHEN THE PILOT REDUCED RPM TO CLIMB POWER, THE SAFETY WIRE BROKE.  THIS PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM FEATHERING OR CHANGING THE REAR PROPELLER PITCH SETTINGS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN99LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA145), Aug 15, 1999: Cessna 337 (N99MH), Edgewood, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: Breakage of the safety wire that secured the propeller control cable to the support bracket. Factors were the inability of the pilot to feather the propeller or change propeller rpm, and rough,…

## Other reports on N99MH (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19950423019549I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950423019549I), Apr 23, 1995: Cessna 337 (N99MH), Monterey, CA, Minor damage. Unable full retraction on takeoff. Recycled. Failed lockdown. Smelled hydro fluid. Hydraulic power pack leak.
- [Incident 19791107055559I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791107055559I), Nov 7, 1979: Cessna 337 (N99MH), Nashville, TN, Minor damage. Piot forgot to lower gear before landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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