20230726015509A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Maule M-5-235C · Orcas Island, WA · July 26, 2023

Date: July 26, 2023 · 16:30 local
Place: Orcas Island, WA
Airport: Orcas Island
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6201M
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR23LA285
Reported as: Maule M-5-235C
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 154 total

N6201MRegistered now · Maule M-5-235CS/N 7198C · Built 1978 Airframe modelMaule M-5-235C Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On July 26, 2023 while sightseeing with (1) pax around Orcas Island, WA. PIC lost engine power about 3 miles out at an altitude of 900-1000 feet from Orcas Island Airport, WA. After losing power, PIC attempted to engage fuel boost pump with no change in fuel pressure. PIC stated they refueled prior to heading to Orcas Island, WA and fuel selector was on both. After losing power, PIC attempted to land in field, but missed landing site due to winds and powerlines in vicinity. PIC then attempted 2nd landing after over-shooting original emergency landing site, but aircraft hit (2) cattle fences causing aircraft to flip over. PIC sustained no injury, pax sustained minor injury.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 26, 2023 WHILE SIGHTSEEING WITH (1) PAX AROUND ORCAS ISLAND, WA. PIC LOST ENGINE POWER ABOUT 3 MILES OUT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 900-1000 FEET FROM ORCAS ISLAND AIRPORT, WA. AFTER LOSING POWER, PIC ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE FUEL BOOST PUMP WITH NO CHANGE IN FUEL PRESSURE. PIC STATED THEY REFUELED PRIOR TO HEADING TO ORCAS ISLAND, WA AND FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON BOTH. AFTER LOSING POWER, PIC ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN FIELD, BUT MISSED LANDING SITE DUE TO WINDS AND POWERLINES IN VICINITY. PIC THEN ATTEMPTED 2ND LANDING AFTER OVER-SHOOTING ORIGINAL EMERGENCY LANDING SITE, BUT AIRCRAFT HIT (2) CATTLE FENCES CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER. PIC SUSTAINED NO INJURY, PAX SUSTAINED MINOR INJURY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR23LA285Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportEastsound, WAThe pilot’s improper in-flight fuel management, which led to fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.Jul 27, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N6201M · 1

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

Accident 19810613032389ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Zachary Bay, AKWheel struck a rock during practice beach landing. Airplane flipped over into surf.Jun 13, 1981 · Substantial damage