# NTSB ATL92IA078: Maule M-5-210, N51590, Atlanta, GA, April 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 1992, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.7490° N, 84.3880° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Atlanta, GA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7490&lon=-84.3880&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8524
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92IA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8524/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92IA078

## 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

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - single engine aircraft
  - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - overtemperature (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, company/operator management (cause)
- Forced landing, cruise - normal

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51590-1998-04-13), registration cancelled 1998-04-13, S/N 6036C (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-5-210
- Registry model: [Maule M-5-210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-210c) (registry code 5460134) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6036C
- Airframe hours: 1355
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19920411012459I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920411012459I), Apr 11, 1992: Maule M5210C, Atlanta, GA. Lost engine power while towing a banner. Forced landing in truck parking lot. Top of NR3 cylinder was blown off.

## Other investigations on N51590 (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 MKC75DTK15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC75DTK15), Apr 27, 1975: Maule M5-210 (N51590), Wood, SD, substantial damage

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.

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