Cessna 401A N401ME

Summary

On 17 November 2014 at about 23:20 local time, a Cessna 401A registered N401ME, operated by Heartland Air LLC, was involved in an accident near Fulton, Missouri, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 November 2014 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Fulton, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Elton Hensley Memorial (FTT)

Coordinates

38.8375, -92.0089

Aircraft

Cessna 401A

Registration

N401ME

Category

Airplane

Year built

1969

Engines

2

Operator

Heartland Air LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fulton → Hot Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CEN15LA050

3 people were seriously injured.

A failure of the right engine magneto distributor drive gears, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to inspect and maintain the magnetos in accordance with the engine manufacturer’s specifications.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, immediately after takeoff in the multi-engine airplane, the right engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot aborted the takeoff; the airplane exited the end of the runway surface, impacted rough terrain, and came to rest upright. Examination of the right engine showed that the magneto distributor drive gears were not turning. Both damaged magnetos were removed and replaced with a slave set of magnetos. The right engine was installed in an engine test cell, and subsequently started and performed normally throughout the test cell procedure. The damaged magnetos from the right engine were disassembled. Both nylon magneto distributor gears exhibited missing gear teeth and brown discoloration. A review of maintenance records showed that the right engine had been operated for about 8 years and an estimated 697 hours since the most recent magneto overhauls had been completed. According to maintenance instructions from the engine manufacturer, the magnetos should be inspected every 500 hours and should be overhauled or replaced at the expiration of five years since the last overhaul. Guidance also indicated that discoloration of the drive gear is an indication that the gear had been exposed to extreme heat and should be replaced.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.