# NTSB NYC87FA121: Cessna 402C, N87PB, Hyannis, MA, April 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 1987, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Hyannis, MA
- Location: 41.6820° N, 70.2710° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from CAPE COD GATEWAY (HYA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6820&lon=-70.2710&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 9 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30493/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA121

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system - pressure excessive (contributing factor)
  - powerplant controls - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER THE INITIAL PWR REDUCTION DRG TKOF, THE PLT NOTED A PARTIAL LOSS OF PWR IN THE RGT ENG. HE SAID HE 'WENT TO FULL POWER ON BOTH ENGINES' & NOTED AN 'EXTREMELY HIGH' FUEL FLOW INDCN TO THE RGT ENG. HE SAID, 'THINKING THAT THE ENGINE WAS FLOODING, I PLACED THE BOOST PUMP SWITCH FROM HIGH TO OFF TO POSSIBLY ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM WITH NO RESULT. ITHEN PLACED THE PUMP BACK TO HIGH AND TRIED TO DECREASE THE FUEL FLOW BY LEANING THE MIXTURE. THIS ALSO DID NOT SEEM TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM.'  WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING THE PRBLM, HE TURNED TO A DOWNWIND & STAYED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, BUT COULD NOT MAINT ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, A WHEELS-UP LNDG WAS MADE IN AN AREA OF SMALL TREES APRX 1/2 MI BFR REACHING RWY 24. AN EXAM OF THE RGT ENG REVEALED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WET WITH FUEL & BLACK WITH SOOT. ALSO, ITS #5 FUEL NOZZLE HAD BEEN CROSS-THREADED & WAS KNOCKED OUT OF ITS HOLE DRG IMPACT. DRG AN INITIAL TEST, THE RGT FUEL PRESSURE SENSING SW DID NOT SENSE OPERG PRESSURE (OVR 6 PSI); THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A HI BOOST/FUEL FLOW COND. LATER, THE SW TESTED OK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87PB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87PB-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 402C0639, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C
- Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402C0639
- Airframe hours: 6032
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Provincetown Boston Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 8, 1987, 22 hours before
- Departed: HYA
- Destination: ACK, NANTUCKET, MA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: HYA, Barnstable Muni, runway 24, 5,430 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,629 total, 550 in this make and model, 54 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HYA, 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 19870412009229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870412009229A), Apr 12, 1987: Cessna 402C, Hyannis, MA, Destroyed. Lost power right engine. Hit trees on forced landing. Bad fuel pressure switch, loose injectors. Failed to 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.