# NTSB ATL96LA078: Mitsubishi MU-2B, N310MA, Batesville, MS, April 7, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 1996, 11:55 local (16:55 UTC) - Place: Batesville, MS - Coordinates: 34.310478, -89.93045 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3105&lon=-89.9304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3721/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA078 ## Probable cause an anomaly in the fuel system that allowed a pressure differential to occur between the center and outer portions of the main integral fuel tank, which in turn resulted in fuel starvation of both engines. A factor relating to the accident was: failure of company maintenance personnel to remove fuel system vent check valves as recommended by Mitsubishi MU-2 Service Bulletin 130A. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - all engines - maintenance,aaip/progressive program - not followed, company maintenance personnel (cause) - fuel system - malfunction (cause) - fuel system,vent - other (contributing factor) - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not complied with, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported that loss of power occurred in both engines after he entered the traffic pattern for a full stop landing. The airplane collided with trees during an emergency landing in a cotton field near the airport. Subsequent review of the aircraft maintenance logs disclosed that Mitsubishi MU-2 Service Bulletin (SB) 130A had not been accomplished on this airplane. According to the manufacturer, an inadvertent failure or the improper installation of a filler cap after refueling may cause an air pressure differential between the center and outboard portions of the main integral fuel tank. Air leakage from the filler cap may result in failure of the fuel transfer system to move fuel from the outboard tank section to the center tank section. To eliminate this possible malfunction, the operator was to remove vent check valves from the bulkhead between the tanks in accordance with SB 130A. The operator's maintenance policies required that, company jet and turbo propeller aircraft be maintained under a maintenance program in accordance with FAR Parts 135.415, 135.417, 135.423, 135.443, and a corporate flight management approved aircraft inspection program (AAIP). The maintenance inspection program also included compliance with manufacturers' service bulletins and service letters. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 1996, at 1155 central daylight time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, N310MA, collided with a tree and the ground during an emergency landing near Panola County Airport, in Batesville, Mississippi. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and the pilot had filed an instrument plan for this flight. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Montgomery, Alabama, at 1055 hours. According to the pilot, both engines quit after he entered the traffic pattern for a full stop landing. The pilot confirmed that the fuel selectors were in the on position and feathered both propellers. He selected an open field, and made an emergency landing one mile south of the airport. The airplane collided with a tree during the emergency landing. A review of the aircraft maintenance logs disclosed that Service Bulletin No. 130A had not been accomplished on this airplane. According to a manufacturer field report, an improperly installed filler cap after refueling, may cause an air pressure head between the center tank and outboard tanks. The air leakage from the filler cap resulted in a possible failure of the fuel transfer system to transfer fuel from the outboard tank to the center tank. To eliminate this possible malfunction, the operator is instructed to remove vent check valves from the bulkhead between the tanks. A review of the company's maintenance policies, stated that the company jet and turbo propeller aircraft shall be maintained under a maintenance program in accordance with FAR Parts 135.415, 135.417, 135.423- 135.443, and corporate flight management approved aircraft inspection program (AAIP). The maintenance inspection program also included compliance with manufacturers service bulletins and service letters. The wreckage examination revealed that enough fuel was in the fuel system to operate the engines. During the wreckage examination, the right engine assembly , still attached to the airframe, was started and ran for several minutes using fuel from the aircraft fuel supply (see attached inspector's report). Impact damage prevented the functional check of the left engine assembly. The visual and physical examination of the left engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical problem. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N310MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N310MA-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N 167, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mitsubishi MU-2B - Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-20) (registry code 5780407) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 167 - Airframe hours: 5400 - Engines: Garrett TPE-331-1151A 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald C. Bingham - Registered owner: Jackson Tenn Leasing Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 1995, 90 hours before - Departed: MGM, MONTGOMERY, AL - Destination: 0M6 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 06M, Batesville, runway 1, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,400 total, 89 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MEM ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960407006139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960407006139A), Apr 7, 1996: Mtsbsi MU2B, Batesville, MS, Substantial damage. Both engines quit entering pattern. Feathered. Landed off airport. Wing hit tree. Fuel filler caps improper installed 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.