Serious incident Cessna 421C N6868D, Tuesday 7 September 1982

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Date:	Tuesday 7 September 1982
Time:	14:15 LT
Type:	Cessna 421C
Owner/operator:	R. Harris Russo
Registration:	N6868D
MSN:	1054
Total airframe hrs:	12 hours
Engine model:	Continental GTSIO-520-N
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Minor
Category:	Serious incident
Location:	St. Louis, MO - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Kalamazoo, MI (KAZO)
Destination airport:	Wichita, KS
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
PILOT REPORTED, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS NEAR ST. LOUIS AND THE PROPELLER DE-ICE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. WHEN DE-ICE SYSTEM WAS TURNED ON, FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE PILOT'S INSTUMENT PANEL WHERE THE DE-ICE AMMETER IS LOCATED. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE PROPELLER DE-ICE SWITCH AND THE FLAMES STOPPED. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER DE-ICE AMMETER REVEALED THAT IT WAS SHORTED TO THE INSTUMENT PANEL. THE AMMETER HAD BEEN MOVED TO THIS LOCATION ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: