# NTSB MIA85IA069: Cessna 402B, N402PB, Sanford, FL, December 29, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1984, 15:26 local (20:26 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, FL
- Coordinates: 28.810642, -81.330345 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8106&lon=-81.3303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85IA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31277/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85IA069

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - flight control,elevator tab - disconnected (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLT, THE ACFT SUDDENLY NOSED DOWN & BEGAN VIBRATING. REMEDIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN & AN UNEVENTFUL EMERG LANDING WAS MADE. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE BOLT, NUT & COTTER PIN (USED TO ATTACH THE ELEVATOR TRIM CONTROL ROD TO THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB) WERE MISSING. COMPANY MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE MISSING COMPONENTS WERE REMOVED ON 12/28/84 & WERE INSTALLED ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N402PB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N402PB-1992-10-21), registration cancelled 1992-10-21, S/N 402B0245 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B
- Registry model: [Cessna 402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402b) (registry code 207590P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402BO245
- Airframe hours: 7752
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Provincetown-Boston Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 28, 1984, 4 hours before
- Departed: MCO, ORLANDO, FL
- Destination: JAX, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Sanford

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,300 total, 150 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SFB

## 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 19841229075229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841229075229I), Dec 29, 1984: Cessna 402B, Sanford, FL, Minor damage. Severe vibration, elevator malfunction. Diverted and landed. Bolt attaching trim rod to elevator trim tab missing.

## Other investigations on N402PB (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA92LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA137), Jun 13, 1992: Cessna 402B (N402PB), Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), substantial damage. Probable cause: FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S), THE RIGHT ENGINE FAILED AND THE RIGHT PROPELLER WOULD NOT FEATHER.

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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