The Cessna 401 and 402 are a series of 6 to 10 seat, light twin-piston engine aircraft. All seats are easily removable so that the aircraft can be used in an all-cargo configuration. Neither the Cessna 401 nor the 402 were pressurized, nor were they particularly fast for the installed power. Instead, Cessna intended them to be inexpensive to purchase and operate.

Design

The Cessna 401 and 402 were developed to be non-pressurized twin engine piston aircraft. Their goal was to be a workhorse, useful to cargo and small commuter airlines among other users. The Cessna 401 and 402 were developments of the Cessna 411. One goal for the Cessna 401/402 was to improve upon the very bad single engine handling of the Cessna 411. Another goal was to avoid using the somewhat expensive and maintenance prone geared engines of the Cessna 411. Cessna 401s and 402s are powered by 300 hp turbocharged Continental engines with three-bladed, constant speed, fully feathering propellers. On later models cruise power was limited to 75% to reduce cabin noise. Some aircraft have a propeller synchrophaser to reduce cabin noise and vibration.

Development

The FAA granted certification to the Cessna 401 in October 1968 and the 402 in January 1969. The original Cessna 402 was introduced in 1967. A version without the large cargo door called the Cessna 401 was produced at the same time. In 1969, the 402's nose was stretched for added baggage space. This model was renamed the 402A. The 401 kept the original nose. In 1970, various minor changes were made. Also, optional larger fuel tanks, of 184 USgal, became available. This model was called the 402B. By 1971, sales of the 401 had slowed to only 21 planes, so the model was discontinued. Between 1971 and 1977, many changes were made to the airframe, including an optional engine fire extinguisher (1971), simpler exhaust system (1972), enlarged passenger windows (1973), equipment for flight into known icing conditions (1975), and an optional flushing toilet (1977). In 1976, the very similar Cessna 421 was produced with a new wing, no tip tanks, and a simpler fuel system. The Cessna 414 was given a clean wing in 1978. In 1979, the 402s received a new wing, with a 5 ft greater span. The landing gear was replaced, using the simpler system from the Cessna 414. The landing gear track was also increased by 4 ft. The engines' output was boosted to 325 hp each and max gross weight increased to 6850 lb, creating a much more useful airplane. Fuel capacity was increased to 213 USgal. Even with the weight increase, single-engine performance improved and the stall speed decreased by a couple of knots. After this change, the plane was named the Cessna 402C. Production stopped after the 1985 model year.

Modifications

In 1969, American Jet Industries began work on a turboprop-powered conversion of the Cessna 402, named the Turbo Star 402, using Allison 250-B17 engines. The prototype flew on 10 June 1970. Further modifications providing increased fuel capacity, higher gross weight, and lower minimum control speed were carried out in 1974 and the modification was re-certified. Scenic Airlines of Las Vegas purchased rights to the design in 1977. The Cessna 402C may be outfitted with vortex generators to increase maximum allowable takeoff weight to 7210 lb, with a zero-fuel weight of 6750 lb. Another modification for the 402C increases the maximum landing weight to 7200 lb, which allows commercial operators to fly with an increased payload on shorter routes. Hendrik Venter of DMI engineering created the Falcon 402: a converted Cessna 402 fitted with a single Walter M601D turboprop in the nose and replacing the two piston engines in the wings with new fuel tanks. The nose was lengthened in order to correct the centre of gravity. It has an increased payload and top speed and can use shorter runways.

Variants

This family of aircraft was built in several versions:

Operators

Civilian

The Cessna 402 has proven to be very dependable over the years, which, along with its range and passenger capacity, has made it a popular choice for many small regional airlines worldwide. The aircraft are generally flown on short, thin routes to hubs where passengers can connect to higher density routes. The largest operator of the type is Cape Air, which as of March 2024 has a fleet of 64 Cessna 402s operating in the Caribbean, Micronesia and the United States.

Military

• ; • Barbados Defence Force • ;🇧🇴 • Bolivian Air Force - 1 Cessna 402 in service as of December 2020. • Bolivian Naval Force • ;🇨🇴 • Colombian Air Force - 1 Cessna 402 in service as of December 2020 • ;🇰🇲 • Comoros Police Defence Air Wing • ;🇫🇮 • Finnish Air Force two aircraft, former operator • ; • Haiti Air Corps • ; • Honduran Air Force - operated one Cessna 401 as of 1993. • ;🇮🇩 • Indonesian Air Force - operated five Cessna 401A and two Cessna 402A. Retired in late 1989. • ;🇲🇾 • Royal Malaysian Air Force • ;🇲🇽 • Mexican Navy • ;🇳🇮 • Contras • ;🇵🇾 • Paraguayan Navy - One Cessna 401 in service 2003. • ; • Portuguese Air Force – One 402B operated 1968–1974. • ;🇹🇹 • Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force – One 401 operated 1986. • ;🇻🇪 • Venezuelan Navy • Venezuelan National Guard – One 402C operated 1986.

Accident

American R&B singer Aaliyah died along with eight others, including the pilot, two hairstylists, a makeup artist, a bodyguard, and three record label professionals, when a Cessna 402B registered N8097W operated by Blackhawk International Airways, crashed shortly after takeoff on August 25, 2001, around 6:50p.m. local time, in Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands, The Bahamas. The main cause of the crash was determined to be an improperly loaded aircraft, which was approximately 700 lb over its maximum takeoff weight, with a center of gravity well aft of the envelope. Investigators discovered that the pilot, Luis Morales III, was unlicensed at the time of the crash and had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system. Blackhawk surrendered its operating certificate to the FAA. Aaliyah's family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Blackhawk, which was settled out of court.

Specifications (402C Businessliner)