# NTSB ATL92LA156: Cessna 441, N920C, Gainesville, GA, August 10, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1992, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Gainesville, GA
- Location: 34.2848° N, 83.8398° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LEE GILMER MEML (GVL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2848&lon=-83.8398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8643
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8643/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA156

## Probable cause

THE POOR INFLIGHT DECISION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND IN THAT AFTER A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER, HE SHUT DOWN THE WRONG ENGINE, DID NOT FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST, DID NOT RAISE THE FLAPS, AND DID NOT RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH BIRDS DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - bird(s) (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong engine shutdown - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, takeoff - initial climb
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - gear retraction - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE HAD A COLLISION WITH A FLIGHT OF BIRDS. HE STATED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE IMMEDIATELY HAD A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO RAISE THE LANDING GEAR NOR THE FLAPS FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINES REVEALED THAT THERE WAS ROTATIONAL SCRATCHING OF THE TURBINE HOUSINGS ON THE RIGHT ENGINE, AND NO ROTATIONAL SCRATCHING ON THE TURBINE HOUSING OF THE LEFT ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N920C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N920C-1992-11-03), registration cancelled 1992-11-03, S/N 4410020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 441
- Registry model: [Cessna 441](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-441) (registry code 2076020) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 441-0020
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 635 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Air Travel Services, Inc.
- Registered owner: Air Travel Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 2, 2000
- Departed: GVL
- Destination: BNA, NASHVILLE, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GVL, Lee Gilmer Memorial, runway 29, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 305 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AHN, 32 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920810030309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920810030309A), Aug 10, 1992: Cessna 441, Gainesville, GA, Substantial damage. Bird strike on takeoff. Right engine lost power apparently bird injested. Failed to clean up or feather. Hit trees.

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.

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