# NTSB DEN92IA046: Cessna 310-L, N331BX, Hugo, CO, April 12, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 1992, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Hugo, CO
- Location: 39.1362° N, 103.4731° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hugo, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1362&lon=-103.4731&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18169
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92IA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18169/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92IA046

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE LEFT VOLTAGE REGULATOR.  FACTORS WERE:  FAILURE OF THE PILOT/MECHANIC TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE AIRCRAFT, AND FAILURE OF THE RIGHT ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - electrical system,voltmeter - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance - not performed, pilot in command
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - failure,total (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, WITH THE RIGHT ALTERNATOR INOPERATIVE, THE LEFT VOLTAGE REGULATOR FAILED CAUSING AN OVER VOLTAGE AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICAL FIRE.  THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE FLIGHT CONTINUED WITHOUT COMMUNICATIONS OR NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT TO THE PLANNED DESTINATION WHERE REPAIRS WERE CONDUCTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N331BX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N331BX), registered now, S/N 310L-0168, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310-L
- Registry model: [Cessna 310L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310l) (registry code 2074230) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0168
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bell, Anthony H.
- Registered owner: Bell, Anthony H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: HQZ, MESQUITE, TX
- Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,108 total, 60 in this make and model, 1,054 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

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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