# NTSB LAX93LA051: Cessna 421C, N52AK, Santa Maria, CA, November 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 1992, 13:21 local (21:21 UTC)
- Place: Santa Maria, CA
- Coordinates: 34.820831, -120.41082 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8208&lon=-120.4108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27873
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27873/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA051

## Probable cause

1) THE INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE, LEFT MAGNETO DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS SERVICE BULLETINS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND 2) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT.  FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO SHUT OFF THE LEFT MAGNETO AND THE FALSE LANDING GEAR INDICATIONS, BOTH FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine
  - ignition system,magneto - disintegrated (cause)
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not followed, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, circling (ifr)
  - landing gear,gear warning system - false indication (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command
- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence

## Analysis

TWELVE MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE LEFT ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH & VIBRATE. THE PILOT SAID HE COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM & SHUT THE LEFT ENGINE DOWN. NO EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED & THE PILOT TOLD ATC THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION, 210 NM & 1.5 HOURS AWAY. THE PILOT OVERFLEW 5 AIRPORTS WITH RUNWAYS OVER 5,000 FT LONG & A MOUNTAIN RANGE. THE PILOT EXECUTED A VOR APPROACH & ENTERED AN EXTENDED DOWNWIND PATTERN. ON SHORT FINAL THE PILOT EXECUTED A GO AROUND BECAUSE HE DID NOT GET ANY GEAR DOWN INDICATIONS. HE THEN MANEUVERED FOR A DOWNWIND LANDING ON RUNWAY 12. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND 100 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, THEN COLLIDED WITH A DITCH & THE AIRPORT FENCE. AN FAA INSPECTOR SAID THERE WERE THREE CLEAR TIRE TRACKS FROM THE POINT OF TOUCHDOWN TO THE DITCH, WHERE THE GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF. HE FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SYSTEM. EXAM OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED A LEFT MAGNETO INTERNAL FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION & WEAR, WHICH CAUSED CYLINDER CROSS FIRING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52AK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52AK-1995-03-16), registration cancelled 1995-03-16, S/N 421C0204 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421C0204
- Airframe hours: 4384
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-L1B 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Farroll Equipment Compnany
- Registered owner: Farroll Equipment Compnany
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 1992, 128 hours before
- Departed: TVL, LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SMX, Santa Maria Public, runway 3, 6,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,512 total, 503 in this make and model, 2,452 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SMX, 1 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 19921122047569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921122047569A), Nov 22, 1992: Cessna 421C, Santa Maria, CA, Destroyed. Lost left engine. Extended flight 200 miles to base. Gear unsafe. Hit fence on go around. Worn mag poor maintenance

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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