# Accident 20230704008709A: Maule MX-7-180, Belgrade, MT, July 4, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2023, 16:02 local time
- Place: Belgrade, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7800° N, 111.1513° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7800&lon=-111.1513&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3171H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3171H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Maule MX-7-180 (registry code 5470205, https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mx-7-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (registry code 42283, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE MX-7-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-C1F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,250 total, 57 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA254) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230704008709A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED THE FOLLOWING:

I PICKED UP ATIS VICTOR (WHICH HAD NOT CHANGED SINCE I HAD DEPARTED KBZN AND CALLED FOR WINDS VARIABLE@ 3 KTS). I ENTERED A RIGHT BASE FOR THE TURF RUNWAY 11 AND APPROACHED WITH ZERO DRIFT. I HAD A SLIGHT BOUNCE UPON LANDING (I BELIEVE LESS THAN 6") AND UPON SETTLING BACK DOWN TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A DECENT 3-POINT LANDING THE TAIL SWUNG TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY, POINTING ME TOWARDS THE LEFT AND DIRECTLY AT A WHITE RUBBER CONE MARKING THE RUNWAY EDGE. (NOTE: THE RUNWAY IS 80 FT WIDE, I WAS PROBABLY LESS THAN 40 FT FROM THE CONE). I HAD ZERO RUDDER AUTHORITY AND NO STEERING AS THE TAILWHEEL HAD UNLINKED FROM THE RUDDER.

I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TRIED TO ADD POWER TO REGAIN RUDDER

CONTROL BECAUSE OF THE CONE, BUT EITHER WAY I IMPACTED THE CONE WITH THE LEFT MAIN TIRE AND HEADED FOR THE TALLER GRASS OFF THE RUNWAY. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS WATCHING THE NOSE OF THE PLANE BURY ITSELF IN THE GRASS AND DIRT AND I FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN.

## 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 WPR23LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA254), Jul 4, 2023: Maule MX7-180C (N3171H), Belgrade, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose over.

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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