# NTSB ATL99LA114: Maule M-5-200, N5643T, St.Simons, GA, July 26, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1999, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: St.Simons, GA - Coordinates: 31.209297, -81.370719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2093&lon=-81.3707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46880 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46880/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=46880 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA114 ## Probable cause The inadequate installation of the magneto assembly by other maintenance personnel that in resulted the separation from the engine and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was the swampy terrain condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - ignition system,magneto - separation (cause) - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - swampy (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, shortly after liftoff from the runway, the engine lost power. Attempts by the pilot to restore full engine power failed. The pilot selected a marshy area for a forced landing. The airplane flipped inverted during the attempted forced landing two miles northwest of the airport. The post-examination of the airplane disclosed that the dual magneto had separated from the engine assembly. The examination also showed that the magneto retention nuts and washers were not attached to the magneto. After the magneto was reinstalled on the engine, a satisfactory engine run was conducted. A review of the engine and airframe maintenance logs disclosed that the airplane was approximately 30 hours out of the last annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1999, at 0930, eastern daylight time, a Maule M-5-200, N5643T, collided with the ground and flipped inverted during a forced landing near St. Simons Island, Georgia. The personal flight operated was by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot was not injured. The flight departed from the Malcolm McKinnon Airport, St. Simons Island, Georgia, at 0928. According to the pilot, shortly after liftoff from runway 34, at Malcolm McKinnon Airport, the engine lost power. Attempts by the pilot to restore full engine power failed. The pilot selected a marshy area for a forced landing. The airplane flipped inverted during the attempted forced landing two miles northwest of the airport. The post-examination of the airplane disclosed that the dual magneto had separated from the engine assembly. The examination also showed that the magneto retention nuts and washers were not attached to the magneto. After the magneto was reinstalled on the engine, a satisfactory engine run was conducted. A review of the engine and airframe maintenance log books disclosed that the airplane was approximately 30 hours out of the last annual inspection. There was no record of magneto assembly removal during the last inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5643T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5643T-2014-02-18), registration cancelled 2014-02-18, S/N 8015C, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-5-200 - Registry model: [Maule M-5-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-235c) (registry code 5460135) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8051C - Airframe hours: 2970 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-JIA6D 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tom V. Willis Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 3, 1999, 30 hours before - Departed: SSI - Airport: SSI, St. Simons Island, runway 34, 3,613 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 926 total, 426 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SSI ## 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 19990726009919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990726009919A), Jul 26, 1999: Maule M5200, Brunswick, GA, Substantial damage. Acft experienced engine failure on climb out shortly after take-off, and the pilot made an emergency landing in a marsh area 3 NM from the arpt. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2000, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=46880. 794 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 438 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40120486&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Master.PDF 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.