# Accident 19970823023389A: Wsk M18A, Coopersville, MI, August 23, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 23, 1997, 10:45 local time
- Place: Coopersville, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 43.0592° N, 85.9296° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0592&lon=-85.9296&mi=10
- Aircraft: N178RA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N178RA-2013-08-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A (registry code 9810103, https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pezetel ASZ-621R-M18 (registry code 49800, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pezetel-asz-621r-m18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WSK M18A
- Reported engine: WSK ASZ62IRM18
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,644 total, 420 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA267) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970823023389A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN AREAIAL APPLICATION, ENGINE LOST FUEL PRESSURE, CRASHED INTO A FIELD. (.4)FOLLOWING AN AGRICULTURAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS READING UNDER 1/8 FULL AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS 1/4 FULL.  THE PILOT OPENED THE OVERFLOW VALVE AND SLIPPED THE AIRPLANE TO BALANCE THE FUEL LEVELS.  THE PILOT DID THIS MANEUVER TWICE AND THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 1/8 FULL IN BOTH TANKS.  THE PILOT SAID THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS THEN LOST AND A TOTAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED.  HE TRIED THE REGAIN FUEL PRESSURE BY USING THE WOBBLE PUMP BUT COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE.  THE AIRPLANE WAS MOVED AND DISASSEMBLED BY THE OWNER BEFORE THE FUEL TANKS COULD BE INSPECTED.  THE OWNER SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE MANUFACTURER SAID FUEL FEED PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY AN AIR LEAK IN THE COVER PLATES ON THE FUEL TANKS.  THE PILOT DID NOT DUMP HIS CHEMICAL LOAD FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.             (-23) ON AUGUSE 23, 1997, AT 1030 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), A WSK PZL MIELEC M-18A, N178RA, REGISTERED TO HATFIELD SPRAYING SERVICES, NIC., OF NUNICA, MICHIGAN, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE PO                                                           WER AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN A FARMER'S FIELD. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES.  THE 14 CFR PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED NUNICA, MICHAGAN, AT 1015 EDT.

## 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 CHI97LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA267), Aug 23, 1997: Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A (N178RA), Coopersville, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot inadequate fuel system management which led to a fuel starvation.

## Other reports on N178RA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20000520037029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000520037029A), May 20, 2000: Wsk M18A (N178RA), Twin Lake, MI, No damage. (-23) The aircraft was spraying for gypsy moths, an eye witness stated the engine developed mechanical problems and crashed in the woods. An inspection of the…

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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