# NTSB SEA85LA032: Cessna 402B TS, N51SA, Tonopah, NV, December 19, 1984 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 19, 1984, 04:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Tonopah, NV - Coordinates: 38.800662, -118.110893 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8007&lon=-118.1109&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): 40098 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40098/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA032 ## Analysis WHILE CRUISING AT 1600 FT MSL ON TOP OF CLOUDS, A LOSS OF POWER IN THE LEFT ENG OCCURRED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE FEATHER THE ENG WHILE DIVERTING TO TONOPATH, NV. THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT USING 1 ENG. THE LAST REPORTED WX AT TONOPAH WAS 400 FT BROKEN, 800 FT OVERCAST. OVER TONOPAH, THE PLT MADE A DESCENDING SPIRAL IN IMC. DURING THE DESCENT, ICING CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE ACFT BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL (AT NIGHT), BUT THE PLT COULD NOT SEE THE ARPT. HE STILL COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT & MADE A FORCED LANDING WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT ENG REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT FUEL SELECTOR BOWL REVEALED SIGNS OF MICROBIOLOGICAL GROWTH. ALSO, THERE WAS HEAVY MICROBIOLOGICAL GROWTH ON THE LEFT FUEL FILTER. WATER & MICROBIOLOGICAL GROWTH WERE FOUND IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. STC SA117NW REQUIRED THE ADDITION OF ANTI-ICING & ANTI-BIOLOGICAL ADDITIVES TO THE FUEL. NO ADDIVTUE WAS USED AT THE PREVIOUS REFUELING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause) - fluid,fuel - water (cause) - fuel system,filter - blocked(partial) (cause) - fuel system - ice (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command - In flight encounter with weather, descent - emergency - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - wing - ice (contributing factor) - aircraft performance,engine out capability - deteriorated (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51SA), registered now, S/N 20700699, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B TS - Registry model: [Cessna T207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t207a) (registry code 2073615) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520-M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-m) (registry code 17266, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B0339 - Airframe hours: 9400 - Engines: ALLISON 250C20B-17 400 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Hawkins Air, doing business as hawkins air - Registered owner: Victor L. Hawkins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1984, 60 hours before - Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV - Destination: RNO, RENO, NV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TPH, Tonopath ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,900 total, 60 in this make and model, 1,550 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft broken - Temperature: 27 °F ## 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 19841219067919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841219067919A), Dec 19, 1984: Cessna STC402CESSNA, Tonopah, NV, Substantial damage. One engine quit, forced descent into icing conditions, emergency landing. Bacteria clogged filter, lack of prist. ## Other investigations on N51SA (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB SEA97LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA114), May 16, 1997: Cessna T207A (N51SA), Monument Valley, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A horse entering the runway after the aircraft touched down. Factors included no fence installed around part of the airstrip, and remedial action not possible. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.