# NTSB ATL93LA108: Cessna 421B, N699DT, Attalla, AL, June 10, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 1993, 18:27 local (23:27 UTC) - Place: Attalla, AL - Coordinates: 34.010334, -86.10073 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0103&lon=-86.1007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3225 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3225/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA108 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE TURBOCHARGER DUE TO ROTOR SHAFT SEIZURE, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - 1 engine - exhaust system,turbocharger - seized (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 36, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE LEFT ENGINE AREA, AND OBSERVED SMOKE TRAILING THE LEFT ENGINE NACELLE. HE CONFIRMED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER, AND HE FEATHERED THE LEFT PROPELLER. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS FORCE LANDED ON WOODED TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE ON THE GROUND AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES AND WAS DESTROYED. AN INSPECTION OF THE LEFT ENGINE TURBOCHARGER REVEALED THAT THE ROTOR SHAFT WAS SEIZED, WITH EVIDENCE OF METAL TRANSFER TO THE BEARING JOURNALS. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 1993, at about 1827 central daylight time, a Cessna 421B, N699DT, collided with trees and terrain following a reported engine power loss near Attalla, Alabama. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and fire. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight from Gadsden, Alabama to Huntsville, Alabama. The flight originated at about 1825. The pilot reported the following: Shortly after lifting off from runway 36 at the Gadsden Airport, he heard a loud noise from the left engine, and observed smoke trailing from the left engine nacelle. He confirmed that the left engine had lost power, and he feathered the propeller. He was unable to maintain altitude, and prepared for a forced landing in an open field. The aircraft collided with trees prior to reaching the field. The aircraft impacted the ground, and caught fire. The pilot exited the aircraft without injury. The left engine was sent to the manufacturer's facility in Mobile, Alabama, where a disassembly and inspection were performed. A copy of the inspection report is included as an attachment to this report (see Teledyne Continental Motors Analytical Inspection Report). The left engine turbocharger was sent to the manufacturer's facility in Torrence, California, where a disassembly and inspection were performed. The inspection revealed that the turbocharger rotor could not be manually rotated. The rotor shaft was extracted from the centerbody, and both bearings were fused to the shaft. The bearings were removed from the shaft, exposing evidence of metal transfer to the bearing journals. For a detailed description of the turbocharger disassembly and inspection, refer to "NTSB Turbocharger Group Chairman Factual Report", attached to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N699DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N699DT-1993-11-19), registration cancelled 1993-11-19, S/N 421B0540 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B - Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421B0540 - Airframe hours: 4430 - Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-H 375 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Vanliere, David L. - Registered owner: Five Star Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 1993, 6 hours before - Departed: GAD, GADSDEN, AL - Destination: HSV, HUNTSVILLE, AL - Airport: GAD, Gadsden Municipal, runway 36, 4,803 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GAD, 2 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 19930610017809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930610017809A), Jun 10, 1993: Cessna 421B, Gadsden, AL, Destroyed. Loud noise smoke and powerloss left engine. Unable sustain flight hit trees. Turbochaarger shaft bearings siezed. ## Other investigations on N699DT (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 CHI79FEM16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEM16), Feb 28, 1979: Cessna 421B (N699DT), Cadillac, MI, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.