# NTSB MKC82IA169: Cessna 421C, N6868D, St. Louis, MO, September 7, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1982, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.629844, -90.190658 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6298&lon=-90.1907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC82IA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82IA169

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - anti-ice/deice system,propeller - shorted (cause)

## Analysis

PILOT REPORTED, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS NEAR ST. LOUIS AND THE PROPELLER DE-ICE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. WHEN DE-ICE SYSTEM WAS TURNED ON, FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE PILOT'S INSTUMENT PANEL WHERE THE DE-ICE AMMETER IS LOCATED. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE PROPELLER DE-ICE SWITCH AND THE FLAMES STOPPED. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER DE-ICE AMMETER REVEALED THAT IT WAS SHORTED TO THE INSTUMENT PANEL. THE AMMETER HAD BEEN MOVED TO THIS LOCATION ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6868D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1054
- Airframe hours: 12
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-N 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: R. Harris Russo
- Registered owner: R. Harris Russo
- Departed: AZO, KALAMAZOO, MI
- Destination: WICHITA, KS
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,000 total, 650 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19820907058929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820907058929I), Sep 7, 1982: Cessna 421C, St Louis, MO, Minor damage. Flames under instrument panel when prop deice was turned on. Turned off,fire ceased. Deice ammeter shorted on panel

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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