# NTSB WPR11LA269: Cessna 402, N3278Q, Caldwell, ID, June 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2011, 12:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Caldwell, ID - Coordinates: 43.641944, -116.635833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6419&lon=-116.6358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 7, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Boise FSDO, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 80830 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80830/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80830 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA269 ## Probable cause The total loss of power in one engine during takeoff due to the blockage of fuel flow by a foreign object in the fuel tank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=207590K), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=207590K), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=207590K), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=207590K), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the skydiving airplane was performing the first takeoff of the day, and he had just raised the landing gear when the airplane experienced a complete loss of power in one of its two engines. There was still runway remaining, and the pilot made the decision to abort the takeoff. Because the airplane was at a very low altitude, the pilot was not sure that all three landing gear would fully extend before the airplane touched down. Therefore, he elected to keep the landing gear retracted, and the airplane touched down on the soft/rough terrain adjacent to the runway. Although no anomalies related to the engine were found, three pieces of poly-isoprene (synthetic rubber) were found in the fuel tank associated with the engine that lost power. Each individual piece was large enough to plug the orifice to the fuel boost pump, and it is likely that one or more of the pieces interrupted the fuel flow to the engine and resulted in the loss of power. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2011, about 1240 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 402, N3278Q, impacted the terrain after a rejected takeoff at Caldwell Independent Airport, Caldwell, Idaho. The commercial pilot and one of his passengers received minor injuries, and the remaining seven passengers were not injured. The airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage to its fuselage. The local 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 skydiving flight, which was in the takeoff sequence at the time of the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he taxied from the location where the airplane was normally kept, to the location where he picked up eight skydivers for the first drop of the day. After picking up the skydivers he taxied to the active runway where he completed the pre-takeoff checklist and engine run-up. He then initiated the takeoff roll, lifted off, and raised the landing gear. Just after he retracted the landing gear, the airplane's right engine experienced a complete loss of power. At that point, because there was still runway remaining, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff, and in order to keep the airplane upright, he pulled the throttle for the left engine to the idle position. Because he was very low over the ground, and he could not be assured of the timely extension of all three landing gear, the pilot decided not to extend the landing gear prior to the airplane settling back to the grass and dirt runway. During the process of touching down and sliding over the rough/soft terrain, the airplane's airframe became substantially damaged. After the accident the right engine was examined, to include the exhaust assembly, air induction assembly, magnetos and ignition assembly, spark plugs, fuel pump, fuel manifold valve, fuel lines and injection nozzles, air throttle assembly, fuel metering unit, lubrication system, oil filter, cylinders, rocker assemblies, accessory drive gear, alternator, and turbocharger. The examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented the engine from operating and producing rated horsepower. After the removal of the drain plug from the right fuel tank in order to drain all of the remaining fuel, three pieces of what appeared to be latex-like thin film material were drained from the tank. One piece was cylindrical in shape, and the other two were flat sheets. All were irregular in shape, and all were seamless. All were translucent and light green/grey in color and very flexible. Each of the pieces was large enough by itself to block the 1.375 inch wide fuel boost pump inlet screen orifice, and all three pieces, when placed in a jar of 100 low-lead aviation fuel, sank to the bottom. It was not determined when or how the material had entered the fuel tank. After the initial on-scene examination, two of the three pieces were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for further examination. The laboratorydetermined that the thickness of the material was 0.002 inches, and a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer analysis determined that the material was most likely poly-isoprene. Poly-isoprene is also known as synthetic rubber. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3278Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3278Q-2012-02-25), registration cancelled 2012-02-25, S/N 402-0078, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402 - Registry model: [Cessna 402](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402) (registry code 207590K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520-E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-e) (registry code 17255, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402-0078 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Janes Denise M - Registered owner: Janes Denise M - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2011 - Departed: KEUL, Caldwell, ID - Destination: KEUL, Caldwell, ID - Airport: KEUL, Caldwell Independent Airport, runway 30, 5,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 6,100 total, 100 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 20110620013869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110620013869A), Jun 20, 2011: Cessna 402, Caldwell, ID, Destroyed. The pilot, [privacy data omitted], while conducting skydiving operations for skydown, expierienced a loss of power in the right engine on climb out. At… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80830. 9.4 MB in all. - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 11-104 (item 1, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2011-104-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form (item 2, .PDF, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373901&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373898&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Continental Motors Inc. Report (51 Embedded Photos) (item 4, .PDF, 51 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Continental%20Motors%20Inc.%20Report%20(51%20Embedded%20Photos)-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Fuel tank contaminant material. (item 6, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373909&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Fuel%20tank%20contaminant%20material.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Fuel tank contaminant material in 100LL fuel. (item 7, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373912&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Fuel%20tank%20contaminant%20material%20in%20100LL%20fuel.-Master.PDF 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.