CEN10CA301

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 421B · Anderson, IN · June 4, 2010

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 4, 2010, 15:12 local (19:12 UTC)
Place
Anderson, IN
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N421KBCessna 421B
Defining event
Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration, Indianapolis FSDO
FAA report
20100604034959A
Case key
76226

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to establish proper rotation and liftoff speed during the takeoff roll.

Findings · 6

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: airspeedAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 421B: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,681 casesProbable cause
Aircraft capability: takeoff distanceAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 421B: 1 caseAll aircraft: 67 casesProbable cause
Planning/preparation: performance calculationsPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 421B: 1 caseAll aircraft: 114 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: use of equip/systemPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 421B: 4 casesAll aircraft: 1,391 casesProbable cause
Landing gear systemAircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceededCessna 421B: 1 caseAll aircraft: 113 cases
Knowledge: knowledge of equipmentPersonnel issues › Experience/knowledge · PilotCessna 421B: 1 caseAll aircraft: 69 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that he did not identify any anomalies during his before takeoff engine run-up. After the successful engine run-up, he selected 15 degrees of flaps and set the pitch trim for takeoff. After receiving a takeoff clearance he taxied the airplane onto the runway, aligning with the runway centerline with 3,300 feet of runway remaining. Before commencing the takeoff roll, he held the brakes as he increased engine power to achieve maximum takeoff power. The takeoff roll was unremarkable until reaching 90 knots, when he attempted to rotate for liftoff. According to the pilot, aft movement on the control column did not result in the airplane becoming airborne. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff when the airplane had reached 100 knots and had not become airborne after passing the halfway point on the runway. He retarded the engine throttles and applied maximum braking, but the airplane was unable to stop before the end of the runway. The main landing gear collapsed during the overrun, damaging the left wing and fuselage primary structure. A postaccident inspection of the runway revealed heavy tire skid markings, consistent with heavy braking, which began 900 feet from the departure threshold. These heavy tire skid markings continued until the airplane exited the runway surface. The airplane came to rest on its lower fuselage structure, approximately 100 feet west of the extended centerline and about 250 feet from the departure threshold. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, postaccident inspection did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented the normal operation of the airplane or its engines. Based on available airport and weather information, the airplane’s pilot operating handbook (POH) indicated that the normal takeoff ground roll at a takeoff weight of 6,400 pounds, without flaps and without a headwind, was about 2,160 feet. The accelerate-stop distance under the same conditions was about 3,600 feet. The POH listed the rotation speed as 115 mph (100 knots) and that normal liftoff was achieved at 120 mph (104 knots). The handbook did not provide performance data for a 15-degree flap takeoff.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he did not identify any anomalies during his before takeoff engine run-up. After the successful engine run-up, he selected 15-degrees of flaps and set the pitch trim for takeoff. After receiving a takeoff clearance he taxied the airplane onto the runway, aligning with the runway centerline with 3,300 feet of runway remaining. Before commencing the takeoff roll, he held the brakes as he increased engine power to achieve maximum takeoff power. The takeoff roll was unremarkable until reaching 90 knots when he attempted to rotate for liftoff. According to the pilot, aft movement on the control column did not result in the airplane becoming airborne. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff when the airplane had reached 100 knots and had not become airborne after passing halfway point on the runway. He retarded the engine throttles and applied maximum braking, but the airplane was unable to stop before the end of the runway. The main landing gear collapsed during the overrun, damaging the left wing and fuselage primary structure. A postaccident inspection of the runway revealed heavy tire skid markings, consistent with heavy braking, which began 900 feet from the departure threshold. These heavy tire skid markings continued until the airplane exited the runway surface. The airplane came to rest on its lower fuselage structure, approximately 100 feet west of the extended centerline and about 250 feet from the departure threshold. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, a postaccident inspection did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented the normal operation of the airplane or its engines. Based on available airport and weather information, the airplane’s pilot operating handbook (POH) indicated that the normal takeoff ground roll at a takeoff weight of 6,400 pounds, without flaps and without a headwind, was about 2,160 feet. The accelerate-stop distance under the same conditions was about 3,600 feet. The POH listed the rotation speed as 115 mph (100 knots) and that normal liftoff was achieved at 120 mph (104 knots). The handbook did not provide performance data for a 15-degree flap takeoff.

Aircraft

Registration
N421KB
Reported as
Cessna 421B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
421B0432
Airframe hours
5,172
Engines
Teledyne Continental Motors GTSIO-520-H, 375 horsepower, reciprocatingTeledyne Continental Motors GTSIO-520-H, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Positioning · Part 91
Operator
Great Lakes Aviation Inc.
Registered owner
Great Lakes Aviation Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 8, 2009
Departed
KAID · Anderson, IN
Destination
KVPZ · Valparaiso, IN
Airport
KAID · Anderson Municipal Airport, runway 18, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
68
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 11, 2009
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,679 total · 27 in this make and model · 3,453 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 7 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
29.78 inHg
Observed at
KAID

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.