- Date
- July 2, 1992, 17:45 local (Jul 3, 1992, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Hayward, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N11BUCessna 421B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920702023659A
- Case key
- 27672
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The explosion of fuel vapors in the right wing due to the pilot's overpriming of the right engine during a start attempt and an uncorrected preexisting fuel system leak. A factor in the accident was inadequate maintenance performed on the aircraft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he overprimed the right engine when he attempted to start it. During the start operation, an accumulation of fuel vapor located outboard of the right engine exploded and ripped open a yard long portion of the right wing's upper skin panels. Evidence was observed of an uncorrected preexisting fuel leak in the vicinity of the right engine's auxiliary fuel pump. The pilot reported that he was an a & p mechanic, and he owned, operated and maintained the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11BU
- Reported as
- Cessna 421B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 421B0912
- Engine
- Continental GTSIO-520H, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Professional Pilot Associates
- Registered owner
- Peter J. Danto
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 8, 1992 · 90 hours before
- Departed
- HWD
- Destination
- OAK · Oakland, CA
- Airport
- HWD · Hayward
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,900 total · 900 in this make and model · 7,800 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.