# NTSB WPR18LA209: Cessna 402, N322HA, Fort Lauderdale, FL, June 14, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 14, 2018, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.074443, -80.150833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0744&lon=-80.1508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 97953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97953/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97953 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA209 ## Probable cause The failure of the left starter relay, which resulted in a loss of electrical power during the flight and the failure of the T-handle from the cable led to a forced landing with the landing gear retracted. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Ignition system: ignition power supply](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057410): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057410/cases.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057410/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 20 minutes into the flight, the airplane experienced a total electrical failure. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in circles while attempting to troubleshoot the problem and perform emergency checklists. Despite his efforts, power was not restored, and the electrically actuated hydraulic landing gear would not extend. The pilot attempted to extend the landing gear using the emergency extension system, but when he pulled the T-handle, it broke off from its housing, separating it from the cable. After additional troubleshooting attempts on the electrical system, the pilot chose to land at a nearby airport, and the airplane landed on the runway with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. A mechanic who performed a postaccident examination of the airplane stated that the left starter motor and starter relay/solenoid had electrical shorts. Additionally, the starter relay remained in the closed position, which likely resulted in the airplane drawing a greater electrical load and draining the battery, leading to a complete loss of power. The emergency extension T-handle was not examined after the accident. However, based on the pilot’s account of the handle breaking off when he attempted to use the emergency extension system, it is likely this prevented the manual extension of the landing gear, which resulted in the forced landing with the landing gear retracted. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2018, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402C airplane, N322HA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight. The flight originated from Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida, about 0830 and was destined for Andros Town International Airport, Fresh Creek, Bahamas. According to a statement submitted by the pilot’s attorney, about 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot observed a low voltage annunciation. About 10 seconds after the annunciator light illuminated, the airplane experienced a total electrical failure. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in circles while attempting to troubleshoot the problem and run through emergency checklists. However, power was not restored, and the pilot understood that the hydraulic landing gear would not extend because it was electrically actuated. After running another checklist and attempting to extend the landing gear to no avail, the pilot made a low pass by a nearby airport tower, which confirmed the landing gear remained retracted. The pilot then attempted to use the emergency extension system for the landing gear and pulled hard on the T-handle. However, instead of actuating the gear, the T-handle broke off from its housing, separating it from the swaged cable. The pilot performed another low pass by the tower and confirmed that the landing gear were still retracted. The pilot opted to continue to troubleshoot the electrical problem while burning off fuel. He then decided to perform a gear-up landing at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and briefed the passengers. The airplane landed on runway 10R with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. A mechanic examined the airplane after the accident. He stated that a visual external examination revealed that the left starter motor had overheating damage. Disassembly of the starter motor revealed an electrical short inside the unit. He removed and examined the starter relay/solenoid; the relay stayed in the closed position and showed evidence of shorting out. He further stated that when the relay is in the closed position, the starter puts a large load on the airplane’s electrical system, and the battery is not capable of maintaining a charge with a constant load draw. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N322HA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N322HA), registered now, S/N 402C0418 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 402 (C) - Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C0418 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 6185.4 - Engines: Continental TSIO520VB 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO520VB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Air Flight Inc - Registered owner: Air Flight Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 7, 2018 - Departed: FLL, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Destination: MYAF, Fresh Creek, OF - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FLL, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Intl, runway 10R, 8,000 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 13, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,342 total, 343 in this make and model, 1,213 as pilot in command, 144 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KFLL ## 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 20180614015499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180614015499A), Jun 14, 2018: Cessna 402C, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. On June 14, 2018, air flight, inc. certificate number AFWA297B dispatched an aircraft, N322HA a Cessna 402C, from their operating base at Fort Lauderdale, FL… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97953. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11417477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 6 photos, 921 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11416667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Rel.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.