Cessna 310Q N55QS

Summary

On 14 December 2000 at about 10:22 local time, a Cessna 310Q registered N55QS, operated by Island Express, was involved in an accident near Chesterfield, New Hampshire, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 December 2000 at 10:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Chesterfield, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Dillant-Hopkins Airport (EEN)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 310Q

Registration

N55QS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Island Express

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lewiston → Albany

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC01FA056

1 person died.

The pilot's continued flight into icing conditions, and his failure to use alternate air. A factor was the icing conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the flight, the pilot telephoned a flight service station. He was provided the current weather conditions along his route of flight, and advised of an AIRMET for occasional moderate rime or mixed ice in clouds and precipitation below 20,000 feet; and the freeing level at or near the surface. About 1 hour into the flight, at 8,000 feet, the pilot advised ATC that he had to descend. He stated that he thought he was picking up ice, and was having an engine problem. ATC vectored the flight to a nearby airport, but the pilot was unable to maintain altitude, and struck terrain about 7 miles from the airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left engine air filter was partially covered with ice, which was about 1/2 inch thick. The filter was recovered after the post crash fire was extinguished. Further examination of the left engine revealed that alternate air valve was in the closed position, and the spark plugs were black and sooty. The airplane was equipped with some deice and anti-ice protection. However, according to the airplane manufacturer and a FAA inspector, the accident airplane and three similar airplanes used by the operator were not certified for flight into known icing. Additionally, none of the four airplanes met the requirements of FAR 135.227(c).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.