Cessna 560XL incident near Debary, Florida, January 13, 2013
On January 13, 2013 at about 11:18 pm local time, a Cessna 560XL, registered N662QS, was involved in an incident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Debary, Florida. It was flown under fractional-ownership rules (Part 91 subpart K). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An accumulation of debris in the airplane’s bilge drain holes that prevented accumulated moisture from properly draining; the accumulated moisture subsequently froze around the elevator control components, which resulted in the flight control stiffness. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s improper installation of seals in the airplane’s tailcone, which allowed water to enter the tailcone.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 2013 · about 11:18 pm local time · cases in 2013
- Place
- Debary, Florida · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 560XL · all 560XLs on the register
- Registration
- N662QS · registry record · serial 560-5262
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · fractional-ownership rules (Part 91 subpart K)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed uneventfully and was climbing to their planned cruise altitude. As the airplane climbed through FL350 at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute (fpm) and with the autopilot engaged, the airplane pitched nose-down and entered a 400-fpm descent. The flight crew then disconnected the autopilot, assumed manual control of the airplane, and leveled at FL350. Both crewmembers noted that "excessive" force was required to change the pitch of the airplane, and subsequently notified air traffic control of the situation. The crew then requested a descent, and noted that both trim and manual elevator control inputs would result in an exaggerated pitch response from the airplane. Upon descending through FL180, the crew felt that something "broke loose" and the elevator controls began to respond normally. The crew subsequently re-engaged the autopilot and continued to the planned destination uneventfully. Post-incident examination of the airplane revealed that several of the fuselage bilge drain holes were partially or totally obstructed, allowing water to accumulate within the bilge and in areas adjacent to elevator control cables and pulleys. Several of the pulleys exhibited evidence of saturation with moisture, and two of the pulleys' bearings had seized completely and displayed evidence that the control cable had subsequently worn their grooves. Additionally, seals designed to limit the entry of moisture within the tail area were not trimmed according to the published installation procedure. As a result of the findings of the investigation, the airframe manufacturer and operator each implemented a revised inspection and cleaning program to ensure the proper drainage of moisture from the tailcone and fuselage bilge areas.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Water/moisture › Effect on equipment
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Malfunction other cases naming the flight controls
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Frames (main fuselage) › Related maintenance info other cases naming the airframe structure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,431 hours in all; 593 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 3,138 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,107 hours in all; 3,017 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 3,607 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,990 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 29, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 20,200 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt and Whitney Canada PW545A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt and Whitney Canada PW545A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Netjets Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: FPR Fort Pierce FL at 10:52 pm
- Destination: PDK Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SFB, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on October 24, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Crew Statements | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Adas Tabular Data (Extract) | data file | Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 - View of Fuselage Bilge (Facing Aft) from FS560 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Operator's Task Card for Cleaning of Fuselage Bilge Drain | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 13-022. | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Airframe Manufacturer's Draft Inspection Procedure | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Operator's Revised Inspection Procedure | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Cockpit Voice Recorder 12 - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N662QS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
2010-05-28ERA10IA285 · incident near White Plains, NY · minor damage · no injuries
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
Aircraft
- N662QS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 560 Citation V, Ultra, Encore and Excel 1,344 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt and Whitney Canada PW545A 59 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt and Whitney Canada PW545A 59 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
Place
- Treasure Coast International · departed from
- Dekalb-Peachtree Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 987 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,702 aircraft registered
Record
- Other NTSB records under N662QS 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA13IA114.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.