- Date
- April 11, 1992, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Atlanta, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N51590Maule M-5-210
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920411012459I
- Case key
- 8524
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the engine cylinder as a result of cylinder overtemperature, which resulted from the improper procedure of use of the aircraft in a banner towing operation by the operator.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was engaged in a banner towing operation when he heard a loud bang, and the aircraft engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot executed a successful off airport landing in a parking lot. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the number three cylinder had failed as a result of fatigue due to heat stress. The engine was found to have been modified with an additional oil cooler in an attempt to maintain oil temperature within operating range during banner tow operations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51590
- Reported as
- Maule M-5-210
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6036C
- Airframe hours
- 1,355
- Engine
- Continental IO-360-D33A, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Air Ads, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Air Ads, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 8, 1992 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- FTY · Atlanta, GA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,700 total · 50 in this make and model · 2,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 70° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FTY, 10 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N51590 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.