Georgia-Cumberland Airplane Crash

[Gregory Matthews]

On December 2, 2004 a Cessna 421B registered to the Georgia-Cumberland Conference crashed near Apison, TN. Five people died in the crash, and one survived, with serious injuries.

The NTSB has released a final report of this crash. You may find it at:

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=20041207X01930&ntsbno=ATL05FA032&akey=1

I find it very interesting. I believe that it gives some factual information that is related to the crash. However, I will not comment on this at this time.

I am turning a copy of the report over to a person I consider to be be well able to interpret and evaulate it for his/her comment.

[NormF]

A word to the wise about this post: "Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread" ...

Nevertheless, it sure looks like not-so-good disregard of the basics, such as an adequate preflight and appropriate engine maintenance, was mixed with a cavalier attitude toward craft-specific competence regarding emergency procedures, plus a general rush to get off the ground and "get there quick." Then there's that right fuel selector valve found in the off position after the crash. I'm asking myself, if that's how they took off? ... it's hard to make any engine run without fuel, much less a sick one with tired spark plugs and a good deal more. Harder still to start one with a wornout, shot starter and no gas, especially an emergency start in the face of an impending crash.

God will take care of you, true. But the Wise Man of Proverbs had few good things to say about fools. Seems to be a sorry outgoing comment.

Nevertheless again, this too is just a fool's observations. Gregory's right, the bottom line hasn't been reached yet.

Regards,

Norm

[bevin]

Quote:

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Then there's that right fuel selector valve found in the off position after the crash. I'm asking myself, if that's how they took off? ... it's hard to make any engine run without fuel, much less a sick one with tired spark plugs and a good deal more.

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I think it is possible that both tanks feed both engines.

I doubt the pilot would attempt a take-off without the engine even running - and the ATP would certainly have complained!

Water in the oil in the sump? Moisture laden oil

Worn-out-severe plugs

"the Aviation Manager for N421SD did not want the Service Information Letters, Cessna Service Bulletins, and Supplier Service Bulletins complied with since they were not mandatory requirements."

My pilot and aircraft mechanic friends take aircraft maintenance very seriously...

/Bevin

[NormF]

Bevin wrote:</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

I think it is possible that both tanks feed both engines.

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True. You're right on that one. Carbureted engines will run-on a bit after fuel is shut off, consuming the fuel in the float bowl. But twins have been fuel injected for many years now, which probably eliminates that in this case anyway, no matter which way the pipes were run. And I'm not in any position to know. Let's take that one off the table; I was wrong.

The report doesn't say anything about taking off on one engine, but the survivor certainly did complain about not even bothering with engine run-ups before takeoff. Looks like perhaps they took off expecting the engine to smooth out and rev up after they were in the air maybe. People have done dumber things, though that would take trying in this case, if this turns out to be so.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

... take aircraft maintenance very seriously...

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I know we did when I was in aviation. I also know that persuading some kinds of bean counters and other management types to do what should be done was sometimes like spitting into the wind, no matter how important we knew it was.

If I'm reading this report right, there seems to be a host of maintenance things that were blithely ignored - service bulletins and notices, scheduled maintenance, etc. Add to that what seems to be overconfident, unchecked-out piloting for this craft, an apparent rush to bore holes in the sky ... and whew boy!

Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks like a poster case story of what not to do. Good flying is a planned, deliberate activity. There's plenty of the unexpected available without adding to it.

Regards,

Norm

[Gregory Matthews]

Just moving this to the top.