# Accident 19950714018549A: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, Clinton, MO, July 14, 1995

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 14, 1995
- Place: Clinton, MO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Location: 38.3694° N, 93.7597° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3694&lon=-93.7597&mi=10
- Aircraft: N168RA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N168RA-1999-10-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A (registry code 9810103, https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI95LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950714018549A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT LANDED APPROXIMATELY 9 MILES NW OF AIRPORT, ON A GRAVEL ROOAD. DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE. (-4)ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED 2,400 HOURS FLIGHT TIME IN THE TYPE OF AIRPLANE INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT, HE STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER FLOWN ONE WITH THE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THIS ONE HAD.  HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT READ THE FLIGHT MANUAL.  BECAUSE HE HAD PREVIOUSLY NOTED UNEVEN FUEL FLOW FROM THE TANKS, HE DID NOT THINK IT UNUSUAL THAT THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT ON THE LEFT TANK CAME ON THEREFORE HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT.  ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND NECESSITATED A FORCED LANDING.  THERE WAS A HANDLE IN THIS AIRPLANE MARKED 'OVERFLOW FUEL VALVE - PULL.'  THE MANUAL INDICATES THAT THIS VALVE IS INTENDED TO PREVENT ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT, BY EQUALIZING THE FUEL BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS.  THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS SOME SORT OF DUMP VALVE AND MADE NO ATTEMPT TO USE IT. OTHER OPERATORS OF THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE STATED THAT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED FUEL VENT PROBLEMS WHEN THEY IMPORTED AND ASSEMBLED THE AIRPLANE.  THIS AIRPLANE HAD OPERATED 1.7 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND THEN                                                       OPERATED 2.5 HOURS PRIOR TO THE POWER LOSS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI95LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA221), Jul 14, 1995: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A Dromader (N168RA), Clinton, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's not using the flight manual and not understanding the fuel management for this particular airplane. Factors were the fuel system vent partial blockage and information unclear…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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