# NTSB NYC92LA124: Cessna 421B, N39PW, Columbus, OH, June 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 22, 1992, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Columbus, OH
- Coordinates: 39.928293, -83.023289 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9283&lon=-83.0233&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37177
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37177/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA124

## Probable cause

THE ELECTRICAL FIRE WHICH STARTED IN A COMPONENT THAT WAS PART OF A DOOR SEAL MODIFICATION.  ALSO CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INSTALLATION OF THIS UNAPPROVED AIRPLANE MODIFICATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - electrical system - fire
  - maintenance,modification - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED WHICH FORCED THE PILOT TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING.  THE CABIN INTERIOR WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN 'UNAPPROVED' CABIN DOOR SEAL.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS A COMPONENT OF THIS DOOR SEAL INSTALLATION THAT CONTAINED AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, AN AIR PUMP AND A MICROSWICH. THE INVESTIGATION ALSO DISCLOSED THAT ALL PARTS INVOLVED IN THE DOOR SEAL SYSTEM WERE NON-CESSNA PARTS AND THEE WAS NO REFERENCE TO PRESSURIZED DOOR SEALS IN THE CESSNA 421 MANUALS. NO RECORD OF AN FAA FORM 337 FOR THE INSTALLATION WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39PW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39PW-1995-05-02), registration cancelled 1995-05-02, S/N 421B0360 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421B0360
- Airframe hours: 4949
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520H 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Shoeware Limited
- Registered owner: Shoeware Limited
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 7, 1992
- Departed: MO30, POTOSI, MO
- Destination: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,500 total, 650 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), 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).

- [Accident 19920622021459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920622021459A), Jun 22, 1992: Cessna 421B, Columbus, OH, Substantial damage. Inflight cabin fire and dense smoke landed,on airbase. Pressurized door seal motor caused fire. No 337 entry.

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.