# Accident 20000515014249A: Maule M4220C, State College, PA, May 15, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2000, 15:30 local time
- Place: State College, PA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.8305° N, 77.2304° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8305&lon=-77.2304&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91480, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91480-2013-04-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule M-4-220C (registry code 5460114, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-220c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M4220C
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD00LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD00LA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000515014249A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 15, 2000, AT 1530 MR EUGENE FARRELL WAS PREFLIGHTING HIS A/C. ON HIS ATTEMPT FOR TAKE-OFF HE EXPERIENCED A DECREASE IN THE RPM'S WHEN APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT. MR. FARRELL THEN PROCEEDED TO PUSH THE CONTROL FORWARD. GRADUALLY HE APPLIED CARBUETOR HEAT AND THE CONTROL SEEMED TO COME BACK FURTHER THAN USUAL AND MUCH EASIER. A RAPID DROP WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY BACKFIRING. TO KEEP THE PROP TURNING, MR. FARELL PUSHED THE CONTROL FORWARD. EUGENE RAISED THE RPM'S TO HELP CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH A THIRD ATTEMPT ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT. AT THIS MOMENT MR. FARELL NOTICED WHITE SMOKE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE COWLING. AS HE PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE A/C, MR FARRELL NOTICED THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES.

## 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 IAD00LA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD00LA042), May 15, 2000: Maule M-4-220C (N91480), Gettysburg, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper pre-flight which resulted in the fuel strainer valve being left in the open position.

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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