Cessna 421
 

In my current case, an expert witness has claimed he gained his turboprop experience in a C421. He said it was a 6/7 seater - so it was presumably not the Executive version.
I thought all C421 models were piston engine. :confused:
Was there a turboprop model?
Can anybody help?

[ 15 July 2001: Message edited by: Flying Lawyer ]

Flying Lawyer,

Cessna 421's :

* May be turbo-props (when modified); and,

* May have 6-7 seats and still be an "executive" aircraft.

A typical Cessna 421 interior has :

* two crew seats (or one crew seat and one pax seat if you like);
* a "single club" (four seats facing each other);
* a single side-facing seat opposite the entrance door (usually with a toilet underneath);
* and quite often there is a single forward facing seat right down the back on the left just aft of the entrance door.

This makes for a total of up to 8 seats. I have never seen or heard of a 421 with more than 8 seats, but have seen plenty with less than 8 seats.

For some pictures of typical Cessna 421 interiors take a look at :
http://www.aircraft.com/listings/for...D=1034269&nh=0

or at :
http://www.aircraft.com/listings/for...D=1031862&nh=0

Now, about the Cessna 421 turbine thing. You are correct in that all C421's were piston powered when they were built (Continental GTSIO-520).

But at least two C421 aftermarket re-engining programs were offered. Both resulted in turbo-prop Cessna 421s.

One program used PT6A engines, and you ended up with a poor-mans Cessna Conquest I. Pictures of genuine Cessna 425 Conquest I's can be seen at :
http://www.aircraft.com/listings/for...mdl=CONQUEST+I

I cant find any current pictures of a re-engined PT6A powered Cessna 421 as there dont seem to be any for sale at the moment. Please be assured that I have seen pictures of them in the past.

The other aftermarket re-engining program used Honeywell LTP101-600A turboprops. Dont ask me any details about these engines because I dont know any. Here's some details and pictures of a "Cessna 421C Riley Rocket" with the Honeywell engines :
http://www.aircraft.com/listings/for...D=1029714&nh=0

Flying Lawyer, I hope this helps. Keep up the good work.

This is from the public domain FAA aircraft registrations database via www.landings.com

Although these records are notoriously unreliable they do reveal at least one example of a PT6A powered Cessna 421 :

N-number : N101TA
Aircraft Serial Number : 421C0331
Aircraft Manufacturer : CESSNA
Model : 421C
Engine Manufacturer : P & W
Model : PT6A SERIES
Aircraft Year : 1977
Owner Name : SUNFLOWER AVIATION LLC
Owner Address : 300 DELAWARE AVE FL 9
WILMINGTON, DE, 19801-1607
Registration Date : 08-Dec-1999
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Standard
Approved Operations : Normal

Very useful.
Thanks very much for your help.