# NTSB MIA90FA135: Cessna T303, N4973V, Deland, FL, May 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1990, 08:03 local (12:03 UTC)
- Place: Deland, FL
- Coordinates: 29.049465, -81.309631 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0495&lon=-81.3096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32561
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA135
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32561/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA135

## Probable cause

THE CHAFED AND SHORTED ELECTRICAL WIRING BETWEEN BUS BARS, WHICH CAUSED A PARTIAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, RESULTED IN A FALSE FIRE WARNING INDICATION, AND PREVENTED THE RESTART OF THE RIGHT ENGINE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, missed approach (ifr)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - chafed (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - shorted (cause)
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - open
  - fire warning system,powerplant - false indication (cause)
  - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command(cfi)
  - gear retraction - not possible
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AN NDB APCH IN INSTRUMENT CONDS WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED, THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE RGT ENG ILLUMINATED.  THE RGT ENG WAS SHUT DOWN & A MISSED APCH WAS INITIATED; HOWEVER, THE LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT & THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT.  AS IT DSCNDD INTO THE TOP OF AN OVERCAST AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 600', THE PLTS TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT TO NO AVAIL.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DSCNDD BELOW THE CLOUDS AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 150' TO 170'.  AS THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) LANDED THE ACFT IN AN OPEN FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.  AN EXAM REVEALED THAT AN ELECTRICAL POWER JUMPER WIRE BETWEEN 2 BUS BARS HAD BECOME CHAFED & SHORTED.  THE LEFT & RGT ISOLATION CIRCUIT BREAKERS & THE BUSS TIE CIRCUIT BREAKER WERE FOUND IN THE TRIPPED (OPEN) POSITION.  THIS RESULTED IN A FALSE FIRE WARNING LIGHT & PREVENTED THE LANDING GEAR FROM BEING RETRACTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4973V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4973V-1996-01-22), registration cancelled 1996-01-22, S/N T30300285 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T303
- Registry model: [Cessna T303](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t303) (registry code 2073820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T30300285
- Airframe hours: 2542
- Engines: CONTINENTAL LTSIO-520-AE 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 17, 1990, 42 hours before
- Departed: DAB, DAYTONA BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DED, Deland Muni, runway 30, 6,003 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,520 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,340 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 150 ft overcast
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAB, 15 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 19900528017589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900528017589A), May 28, 1990: Cessna T303, Deland, FL, Destroyed. Believed engine fire,shut down. Unable flight due to gear down and popped circuit breakers. Bus jumper wire shorted

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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