Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 310K near El Dorado, KS — 2014-08-27

Final reportCEN14LA461
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Date
2014-08-27
Location
El Dorado, KS, USA
Airport
KEQA
Aircraft
CESSNA 310K
Registration
N101JB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

A fatigue failure of the left engine’s throttle cable, which resulted in the loss of left engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger planned on conducting a proficiency flight in the twin-engine airplane. The pilot reported that, after a normal engine run-up and takeoff, they proceeded to another airport to conduct touch-and-go landings. The pilot landed the airplane, and, during takeoff, the airplane drifted left. He then added right rudder and checked his engine instruments and noted that the left engine was not producing full power; however, the airplane was traveling about 110 to 112 mph, so he chose to continue the takeoff. Shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot realized that the airplane was not accelerating or climbing. He then reduced engine power and conducted a forced landing. An initial examination of the airplane revealed that the left engine's throttle cable had broken near the engine connection end. Further examination of the individual wire cable strands revealed fracture surfaces consistent with fatigue. The examination also revealed a shallow circumferential swage on the cable's tube/ball-type connection; however, it could not be determined if the shallow swage was due to improper manufacturing or deterioration of the joint over years/hours of use. The accident is consistent with the loss of left engine power due to a fatigue failure of its throttle cable. The throttle cable time/hours in service could not be determined because maintenance records were not available.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff after detecting left engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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