# Accident 20000421039519A: Wsk M18A, Williams, CA, April 21, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 21, 2000, 11:00 local time - Place: Williams, CA - Airport: Private - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: NHEG - Location: 39.1098° N, 122.2705° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1098&lon=-122.2705&mi=10 - Aircraft: N62587, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62587-2017-04-18) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A (registry code 9810103, https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WSK M18A - Reported engine: WSK ASZ621RM18 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA166) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000421039519A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) PILOT REPORTED AFTER REFILLING HOOPER WITH RICE HE TAXIED TO THE END OF THE STRIP.SHORTLY AFTER BREAKING GROUND, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. THE POWER CAME BACK ON RIGHT AWAY BUT THE A/C HAD SETTLED TOO MUCH AND THE LANDING GEAR HIT A CEMENT BLOCK. THE A/C CART WHEELED AFTER HITTING THE CEMENT BLOCK, DESTROYING THE A/C. NOTHING OBVIOUS WAS FOUND THAT WOULD CAUSE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER. THERE WAS NO FUEL AVAILABLE FOR A SAMPLE AT THAT TIME. THE A/C HAD SAT WITH THE ENGINE AT IDLE DURING THE LOADING OF THE RICE AND THETAXI OUT FOR TAKEOFF. THIS WAS A RENTED ENGINE THAT WAS INSTALLED 10/25/99 WITH 1008 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL. THE MAGNETOS WERE RECENTLY CHANGED BY DONOVAN AVIATION (THE OWNER OF THE ENGINE). (.4)ON APRIL 21, 2000, AT 1100 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A PZL-MIELEC M-18A, N62587, COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF FROM A DIRT ROAD NEAR WILLIAMS, CALIFORNIA. THE ABORTED TAKEOFF WAS PRECIPITATED BY A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED BY CHARTER AVIATION OF WILLIAMS UNDER 14 CFR PART 137 OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS AND WAS ENGAGED IN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS. THE AIRCR AFT INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. IN A STATEMENT TO FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTORS, THE PILOT SAID HE HAD BEEN USING A DIRT ROAD NEAR FIELDS TO BE SPRAYED AS A STAGING AREA FOR THE DAYS AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHTS. HE COMPLETED ONE APPLICATION OPERATION AND LANDED ON THE ROAD TO REFUEL AND RELOAD CHEMICALS. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE FUELING AND LOADING OF THE CHEMICALS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT IDLE POWER. JUST AFTER THE WHEELS LEFT THE GROUND DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND MOMENTARILY LOST POWER. AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BACK TO THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE POWER CAME BACK. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN TOO FAST TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY AND TOO LOW TO MISS A FENCE AT THE RUNWAY'S END. THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE FENCE AND THE AIRPLANE CART WHEELED INTO A FIELD. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE. THE RADIAL ENGINE IS OF POLISH MANUFACTURE AND CLOSELY RESEMBLES A PRATT AND WHITNEY R1860. THE INSPECTOR NOTED THAT THE ENGINE AND MANY OF THE ACC ESSORIES WERE IMPACT DAMAGED, AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RUN. HE REPORTED THAT NO OBVIOUS DISCREPANCIES WERE OBSERVED. IN ADDITION, HE NOTED THAT THE RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NEAR THE TBO LIMIT. ## 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 LAX00LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA166), Apr 21, 2000: PZL-Mielec M-18A (N62587), Williams, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A momentary interruption in engine power for undetermined reasons. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.