NTSB Factual Report

On January 8, 2016, about 0900 central standard time, a Cessna 441, N779CC, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Hector International Airport (FAR), Fargo, North Dakota. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Northern Meridian LLC under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight departed from the Detroit Lakes Airport (DTL), Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, about 0830 and was destined for FAR.

The pilot reported that this was the first flight after a phase maintenance check and he was positioning the airplane to FAR which was about 40 nm from DTL. After departure, he climbed to 4,000 ft above mean sea level (msl) and engaged the autopilot in preparation for landing at FAR. He stated that he heard a "thumping" in the left rudder pedal and noted a 20-degree angle of bank to the left on the attitude indicator. He disengaged the autopilot, rolled wings level, and started to troubleshoot the problem. Then the left fuel pressure low light illuminated. Thinking it was an indication problem, he switched to the left AUX pump and then back to the main pump, and the light went out.

The air traffic controller (ATC) cleared the flight to descend to 2,800 ft msl, but the pilot requested a climb to 5,000 ft msl to get out of icing conditions and "sort out the problems." During the climb, the pilot noticed a discontinuity message between the headings on the Avidyne Entegra flight displays. Once at 5,000 ft msl, the pilot engaged the autopilot and the airplane made a 180-degree turn to the right. The pilot disengaged the autopilot again and turned back towards FAR. The left fuel pressure low light and the left X-FER pump fail light illuminated. The pilot declared an emergency and ATC cleared the flight to descend to 2,800 ft msl and provided vectors for the ILS Runway 36 approach to FAR. The pilot stated that as the airplane was descending through 4,000 ft msl, the left engine started to surge. The pilot reported that the engine never failed during the flight, but he thought an engine failure was imminent.

The pilot programmed his flight instruments for the approach and activated the vectors to final, but the discontinuity message light illuminated again. He flew through the localizer of the ILS Runway 36 approach, and he subsequently requested ATC to fly the RNAV (GPS) 32 approach instead. The pilot reported that about this time the airplane was picking up ice accumulation and he cycled the deice boots. The ATC controller vectored the airplane back to the southeast for the RNAV (GPS) 32 approach.

The airplane intercepted the final approach course for the RNAV (GPS) 32 approach and was cleared by ATC for the approach. The airplane broke out of the clouds about 600 - 700 ft above ground level (agl) at 120 kts and less than a mile from the runway, and the pilot lowered the landing gear. The pilot reported that before he started the flare, he closed the throttle, selected the last notch of flaps, and flared at 110 kts. He stated there was shaking and shuddering, but no stall warning horn, and then the "bottom fell out." The airplane landed hard and the left propeller blades struck the runway. While taxiing to the ramp, the pilot noted that it was necessary to forcefully kick in the right rudder pedal to turn right.

The pilot conducted a post-accident examination of the airplane stated that there was about 1/2 to 1-inch of rime ice accumulated on the leading edge surfaces of both wings. Photographs of the airplane on the ramp after the accident indicated that there was ice accumulated on the leading edge surfaces of the horizontal stabilizer and vertical stabilizer as well. The examination of the airplane revealed there was substantial damage to the wing spar and damage to the left propeller blades from the propeller strike. The stall warning horn was tested on the ground and it operated.

The pilot stated that he normally enters the flare at 95 kts between 5 – 10 ft agl, and he just holds the nose off, and the airplane typically floats onto the runway.

The Cessna 441 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) states that the stall speed for the airplane in the landing configuration at 9,360 lbs is 74 kts indicated airspeed.

The Cessna 441 POH states that the following about the airplane's deice boot system:

"The deice boot system consists of pneumatic air operated boots, an annunciator light to monitor system operation and necessary hardware to complete the system.

The deice boots are attached to the leading edges of the wings and horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The boots expand and contract, using pressure and vacuum generated by engine bleed air. Normally, vacuum is applied to all of the boots to hold them against the leading edge surfaces. When a deice boot is cycle is initiated, the vacuum is removed and bleed air pressure is applied to inflate the boots. The change in contour will break ice accumulation on the leading edges. Ice formation aft of this area will then be removed by normal in-flight air forces. A normal boot inflation sequence is 6 seconds for empennage boots followed by 6 seconds for the wing boots. The system should be cycled when ice accumulates to between 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

The deice boot are inflated each time that the deice boot switch is activated. The RESET position is used to stop the cycle, should it ever become necessary. A light on the annunciator panel, marked SURFACE DEICE, will illuminate when the tail boots become inflated to a pressure of 11 PSI or more, extinguishes momentarily and illuminates again when the wing boots inflate. If less than 11 PSI is available, the light will not illuminate, indicating that icing conditions should be avoided. Prior to flight in icing conditions, operation of the boots should be functionally checked on the ground or in flight with the OAT above -40 degrees Celsius."

The Cessna 441 POH states that the following about the Surface Deice Boots Switch:

"Surface Deice Boots Switch – ON when ice accumulates between 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Repeat as necessary. Do not actuate prematurely. Monitor the SURFACE DEICE annunciator to assure proper system operation."

The POH added this NOTE:

"Prestall buffet and stall speeds can increase when deice boots are actuated."

At 0853, the surface weather observation at FAR was: wind 340 degrees at 19 kts, 5 miles visibility, mist, overcast at 700 ft, temperature -7 degrees C, dew point -9 degrees C, altimeter 29.98 inches of mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to cycle the surface deice boots during the instrument approach in icing conditions, which led to ice accumulation on the leading edges of the wings and empennage, and resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing.