# NTSB LAX83IA056: Cessna 551, N1218V, Near Palm Sprin, CA, December 9, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1982, 08:38 local (16:38 UTC)
- Place: Near Palm Sprin, CA
- Coordinates: 33.849639, -116.559005 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8496&lon=-116.5590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71909
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83IA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71909/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83IA056

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, cruise - normal
  - flight/nav instruments,attitude gyro - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - autopilot/flight director - undetermined (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - wing,skin - buckled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND CLIMBOUT, THE AUTOPILOT MALFUNCTIONED AFTER THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED AN OVERCAST AND ENCOUNTERED RAIN AND TURBULENCE. THE PILOT RETURNED TO BERMUDA DUNES, CA. AFTER LANDING HE HAD THE ELECTRICAL, AVIONICS AND AUTO PILOT SYSTEMS CHECKED. ALL ITEMS WERE OPERATIONAL. THE PILOT PREPARED TO TAKEOFF AGAIN, BUT FAILED TO TURN ON THE STANDBY GYRO WHICH WAS BATTERY POWERED. AFTER DEPARTING, HE AGAIN ENCOUNTERED RAIN AND TURBULENCE IN IFR CONDITIONS (AT ABOUT 9500 FT). AT ABOUT THAT TIME ATC ADVISED HIS TRANSPONDER WAS NOT PROVIDING A RETURN. HE SWITCHED TRANSPONDERS, BUT ATC STILL RECEIVED NO RETURN. SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED, THE AUTO PILOT DISENGAGED, AND THE COPILOT'S GYROS TUMBLED. HE TURNED ON THE STANDBY GYRO WHICH NEEDED TIME TO BE USED. A HIGH SPEED DESCENT WAS ENTERED INADVERTENTLY AND THE AIRSPEED WARNING HORN ACTIVATED. THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE SPEED BRAKES AND MADE A SHARP PULL-UP DURING THE RECOVERY. HE THEN RETURNED AND LANDED. WRINKLES WERE FOUND ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1218V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 551
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0431
- Airframe hours: 81
- Engines: P & W JT-15D-4 2500 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Ernest Walter Hahn
- Registered owner: Ernest Walter Hahn
- Departed: UDD, BERMUDA DUNES, CA
- Destination: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 8,200 total, 430 in this make and model, 7,830 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 106 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19821209068219I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821209068219I), Dec 9, 1982: Cessna 551, Palm Springs, CA, Minor damage. Lost transponder and autopilot in heavy rain. Lost control. Wrinkled stress panels on dive recovery. Standby HSI off

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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