# NTSB CEN14LA120: Cessna 414A, N414CJ, Ashland, MO, January 23, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 23, 2014, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ashland, MO - Coordinates: 38.774166, -92.279724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7742&lon=-92.2797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Continental Motors, Federal Aviation Administration, Cessna Aircraft - NTSB case key (mKey): 88708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88708/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88708 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA120 ## Probable cause The in-flight failure of both engines due to water contamination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2075907), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 414A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2075907), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna 414A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2075907), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 414A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2075907), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 414A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2075907), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 414A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2075907), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the descent to the destination airport, the airplane's left engine experienced a partial loss of power and that he attempted to troubleshoot the issue. Unable to restore the engine power, he secured the left engine, feathered the propeller, and advised air traffic control of the situation. Shortly after, the right engine experienced a partial loss of power and eventually only produced idle power. Unable to reach the destination airport, the pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed ice buildup in the fuel manifold valves, the fuel strainer bowls, and the fuel strainer screens. The left fuel strainer bowl contained a 1 3/8-inch thick piece of ice. Fuel samples from both of the airplane's fuel tanks and from the fuel supplier at the airport used to the fuel the airplane earlier in the day were tested, and no water contamination was found; the source of the water contamination could not be determined. It is likely that the loss of engine power resulted from water contamination and subsequent ice buildup in the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On January 23, 2014, about 1430 central standard time, a Cessna 414A airplane, N414CJ, experienced a loss of engine power near Ashland, Missouri. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Alelco, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (KCBF), Council Bluffs, Iowa, at 1326 and was destined for the Jefferson City Memorial Airport (KJEF), Jefferson City, Missouri. The pilot report, at 0700 on the morning of the accident flight the pilot completed a preflight inspection. During the inspection no anomalies were noted and no water was observed in the fuel sumps. The pilot flew from KJEF to KCBF at 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl) where the outside air temperature (OAT) was about negative 11 degrees Celsius (C). No anomalies were noted during the flight. While on the ground at KCBF about 1030, the airplane was filled with 74 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. The OAT at KCBF was negative 4 degrees C. At 1130 the pilot stared both engines and let them run for about 10 minutes to prevent cold soaking. This process was repeated again at 1300. With the absence of another preflight inspection, the pilot and two passengers departed for KJEF about 1330. During cruise flight at 15,000 feet msl, where the OAT was negative 19 degrees C, the pilot noticed "a very quick/short miss" in one of the engines but could not identify a specific problem. This happened again during the initial descent. During the descent to KJEF, about 7,000 feet msl, the pilot noted that engines got out of sync and the airplane yawed as if an engine had lost power. The left engine then began to lose power so the pilot attempted to troubleshoot the issue. When he was unable to remedy the issue, he secured the left engine, feathered the propeller, and advised air traffic control (ATC) of the situation. Then the right engine began to lose power and eventually would only produce idle power. Unable to maintain altitude and reach the intended airport, the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing into a field. A postaccident examination was conducted by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and representatives from the engine and airframe manufacturers. The examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The fuel manifold valves on both engines contained pieces of ice. The fuel strainers bowls both contained significant amounts of ice. The ice in the left fuel strainer bowl measured 1 3/8 inches thick. Also, the fuel strainer screen contained ice. The fuel from both fuel tanks was sampled and tested and was negative for water contamination. Fuel samples taken from the fuel supply at KCBF were negative for water contamination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N414CJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N414CJ-2014-06-04), registration cancelled 2014-06-04, S/N 414A0432, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 414A - Registry model: [Cessna 414A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414a) (registry code 2075907) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 414A0432 - Year built: 1979 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO-520 325 horsepower reciprocating; Continental Motors TSIO-520 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Alelco Inc - Registered owner: Alelco Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2013 - Departed: CBF, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - Destination: JEF, JEFFERSON CITY, MO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: COU, Columbia Rgnl - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 23, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 14 °F, dew point -8 °F - Altimeter: 30.70 inHg - Observed at: KCOU, 4 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 20140123000889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140123000889A), Jan 23, 2014: Cessna 414A, Ashland, MO, Substantial damage. Aircraft was enroute from kcbf (council bluffs, IA) to kjef (jefferson city, MO). Approximately 20 miles from jef, both engines lost RPM and manifold presure.… ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88708. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Email - Fuel Samples (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Email%20-%20Fuel%20Samples-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement - Council Bluffs FBO (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Council%20Bluffs%20FBO-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Email (item 4, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Email-Redacted.PDF - On Scene Summary - Continental Motors (item 5, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=On%20Scene%20Summary%20-%20Continental%20Motors-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 474 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Revisions to Factual Report (item 7, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Revisions%20to%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Ice from right fuel strainer bowl (Photo Courtes of Continental Motors) (item 8, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Ice%20from%20right%20fuel%20strainer%20bowl%20(Photo%20Courtes%20of%20Continental%20Motors)-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Ice from left fuel strainer bowl (Photo Courtesy of Continental Motors) (item 9, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411219&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Ice%20from%20left%20fuel%20strainer%20bowl%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Continental%20Motors)-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Ice in right fuel manifold valve (Photo Courtesy of Continental Motors) (item 10, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Ice%20in%20right%20fuel%20manifold%20valve%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Continental%20Motors)-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Ice in left fuel manifold valve (Photo Courtesy of Continental Motors) (item 11, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411221&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Ice%20in%20left%20fuel%20manifold%20valve%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Continental%20Motors)-Master.PDF 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.