# NTSB FTW04IA104: Cessna 414, N414FB, Midland, TX, March 19, 2004 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 2004, 18:24 local (Mar 19, 2004, 00:24 UTC) - Place: Midland, TX - Coordinates: 31.942499, -102.201667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9425&lon=-102.2017&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 July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04IA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59009/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04IA104 ## Probable cause The in-flight wing fire for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) ## Analysis The 3,000-hour pilot reported that after takeoff, he noticed that fuel flow indication was not working properly, and he chose to return to the airport for a precautionary landing. During the approach, the nose landing gear indication light did not illuminate, and an the emergency gear extension procedure was performed. As the airplane continued to the airport, the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls for the right engine became "very stiff, almost immoveable." During landing roll, the pilot noted "braking on the right side was minimal." After landing, further investigation revealed a small in-flight fire had occurred in the right wing. The reason for the in flight fire was undetermined. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 2004, at 1824 central standard time, a Cessna 414 twin-engine airplane, N414FB, sustained minor damage following an in-flight fire during takeoff/initial climb from the Midland International Airport (MAF), near Midland, Texas. The airplane was registered to Foxtrot Bravo LLC, of Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was destined for the Lancaster Airport, near Lancaster, Texas. The 3,000-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that during takeoff, the airplane achieved a positive rate of climb and he retracted the landing gear as he reduced the power on the left and right engine to 33 inches of manifold pressure and 2,500 rpm. Subsequently, he noticed a "no" fuel indication on the engine monitoring instruments. At an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet msl, on runway heading, the pilot advised Midland Air Traffic Control of the situation, and requested radar vectors to return to MAF. Upon turning inbound to MAF, the pilot noticed the left and right hydraulic warning lights were illuminated. After extending the landing gear for landing, the nose landing gear safe indication light did failed to illuminate, prompting the pilot to perform an emergency gear extension procedure to verify landing gear indication. The pilot added that while continuing to the airport, the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls for the right engine became "very stiff, almost immoveable." An uneventful touchdwon was made on runway 10. During the landing roll, while still on the runway, the pilot noted that "braking on the right side was minimal." After exiting the runway on taxiway "A", the pilot was able to shut down the right engine by using the mixture control lever. Upon exiting the aircraft, the pilot noticed evidence of fluid loss from the wing root area of the right engine. A detailed examination of the right wing revealed that a small in-flight fire occurred in the right wing, just inboard of the nacelle leading edge area. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed evidence of heat damage to electrical wiring, fluid carrying lines, and aluminum tubing. The source or reason for the in-flight fire could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N414FB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N414FB), registered now, S/N 414A1203, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 414 - 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: 414A1203 - Airframe hours: 1841.5 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NB 335 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Frank A. Blankenbeckler - Registered owner: Foxtrot Bravo LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2003, 157.9 hours before - Departed: MAF, MIdland, TX - Destination: LNC, Lancaster, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MAF, Midland International, runway 10, 8,302 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 15, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 150 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: MAF ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20040318003909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040318003909I), Mar 18, 2004: Cessna 414A, Midland, TX, Minor damage. (-23) On March 18, 2004, N414FB, a Cessna model 414A aircraft, was departing Midland international airport (maf) enroute to lancaster, Texas, when the pilot… 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.