20090130001409A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 421C · Benton, KS · January 30, 2009

Date: January 30, 2009 · 08:10 local
Place: Benton, KS
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N345JB
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN09LA145
Reported as: Cessna 421C
Reported engine: Continental GTSIO520L
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 23,900 total65 in this make and model65 in the last 90 days

N345JBRegistration cancelled Dec 14, 2009 · Cessna 421CS/N 421C0494 Airframe modelCessna 421C

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On January 30, 2009, at approximately 0810, shortly after departure from jabara airport (aao), while climbing through 3000 feet, Cessna 421C, N345JB, experienced loss of engine power from both engines. The pilot declared an emergency and landed with the gear up in a field approximately 3 miles north and 2.5 miles east of the airport (aao). There was substantial damage noted to the wings and propellers. The pilot and passengers all reported minor injuries. An examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained a mixture of 100 low-lead (100LL) and jet-a-fuel. The pilot requested 80 gallons of fuel, 40 gallons in each tank, the night prior to the incident. An examination of the fuel truck records showed that 80 gallons of jet-a was pumped into the tanks of N345JB on 01/29/2009. The pilot stated in an interview with the FAA that he conducted a preflight of the aircraft, however, did not sample the fuel prior to engine start.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JANUARY 30, 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 0810, SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE FROM JABARA AIRPORT (AAO), WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 3000 FEET, CESSNA 421C, N345JB, EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM BOTH ENGINES. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED WITH THE GEAR UP IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES NORTH AND 2.5 MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT (AAO). THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE NOTED TO THE WINGS AND PROPELLERS. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS ALL REPORTED MINOR INJURIES. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED A MIXTURE OF 100 LOW-LEAD (100LL) AND JET-A-FUEL. THE PILOT REQUESTED 80 GALLONS OF FUEL, 40 GALLONS IN EACH TANK, THE NIGHT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TRUCK RECORDS SHOWED THAT 80 GALLONS OF JET-A WAS PUMPED INTO THE TANKS OF N345JB ON 01/29/2009. THE PILOT STATED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FAA THAT HE CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT, HOWEVER, DID NOT SAMPLE THE FUEL PRIOR TO ENGINE START.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN09LA145Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWichita, KSThe failure of line personnel to ensure that the airplane was serviced with the proper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration's approval of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) which allowed an improper fuel filler…Jan 30, 2009 · Substantial damage