# NTSB CHI84LA055: Cessna 310L, N2222F, West Lafayette, IN, December 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 8, 1983, 00:43 local (05:43 UTC)
- Place: West Lafayette, IN
- Coordinates: 40.440311, -86.910728 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4403&lon=-86.9107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12501
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12501/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA055

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - electrical system,electric wiring - loose (cause)
  - electrical system,alternator - shorted (cause)
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - popped/tripped
  - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command
  - electrical system,electric wiring - burned (cause)
  - electrical system - inoperative
  - anti-ice/deice system,pitot heat - inoperative
  - flight control,flap - inoperative
- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - pitot/static system - ice
  - flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - inoperative
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - lowering of flaps - not possible
  - airspeed indicator - inaccurate
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENG WITH THE BATTERIES & MADE A START BY USING AN APU. ABOUT 10 MIN AFTER TAKING OFF, HE NOTICED AN OFF FLAG ON THE HSI. A FURTHER CHECK WAS MADE & HE DISCOVERED THE LEFT ALTERNATOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. HE THEN CHECKED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER PANEL, BY FEEL, & PUSHED IN A BREAKER. AT THAT TIME, TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE OCCURRED. AFTER FLYING ABOUT 40 MIN BY USING PARTIAL PANEL PROCEDURES. HE DESCENDED THRU IFR CONDITIONS, SAW A DESERTED/SNOW COVERED STREET & DECIDED TO LAND. HOWEVER, BEFORE DESCENDING, THE ACFT HAD 'PICKED UP SOME ICE,' & WITH NO PITOT HEAT, THE PITOT HEAT TUBE HAD ICED OVER, MAKING THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR INOP. ALSO, WITH ELECTRICAL FAILURE, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE FLAPS. WHILE LANDING, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE SNOW COVERED STREET & THE ACFT HIT A DIRT BANK & WAS DAMAGED. A EXAM REVEALED A LOOSE CONNECTION ON THE LEFT ALTERATOR, SHORTING ACROSS THE BRUSH LEADS. THE 'Y' CONNECTION ON THE RIGHT ALTERNATOR WAS BURNT/2 WIRES BURNT OFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2222F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2222F-2014-10-06), registration cancelled 2014-10-06, S/N 310L-0022, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310L
- Registry model: [Cessna 310L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310l) (registry code 2074230) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-470-series) (registry code 17044, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310L-0022
- Airframe hours: 6722
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-V 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Anderson Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 1983, 2 hours before
- Departed: DPA, WEST CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: AID, ANDERSON, IN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,944 total, 908 in this make and model, 3,808 as pilot in command, 326 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAF, 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 19831208061329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831208061329A), Dec 8, 1983: Cessna 310L, West Lafayette, IN, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost complete electrical system. Pilot descended through clouds and made landing on road. Pn 1100747.

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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