Cessna 320D N4127T

Summary

On 16 March 1999 at about 04:46 local time, a Cessna 320D registered N4127T, operated by Star West Aviation, was involved in an accident near Broomfield, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 March 1999 at 04:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Broomfield, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Jeffco Airport (BJC)

Coordinates

39.9398, -105.0592

Aircraft

Cessna 320D

Registration

N4127T

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Star West Aviation

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cheyenne → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DEN99LA054

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of power on the left engine for undetermined reasons. A factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing flare/touchdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was north of the airport at 8,000 feet in bound for landing when she turned on the fuel boost pumps and switched from the auxiliary to the main tanks following a momentary surge. Minutes later, the left engine began to surge again. She was able to substantially restore power to the left engine. During approach to landing, the power on the left engine began to surge again, followed by a partial loss of power. As she flared for landing, the aircraft veered to the left and departed the runway into the grass. Based on the pilot's fuel calculations, the aircraft should have had 53.2 gallons of fuel remaining when she landed. The day after the accident, fuel was found in the right main fuel tank; however, the left tank was compromised and the presence of fuel could not be verified. Following the accident, the left engine was run in a test cell. The engine operated up to the maximum available power, and no discrepancies were observed. The turbocharger was also examined, and no abnormalities were found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.