# NTSB CEN09CA521: Maule M-4-220C, N11EN, Abernathy, TX, July 25, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 25, 2009, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Abernathy, TX
- Coordinates: 33.840831, -101.757774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8408&lon=-101.7578&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA521
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74523/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74523
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA521

## Probable cause

The failure of the fuselage's tube structure due to corrosion during a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fuselage: fuselage main structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot with one passenger on-board the airplane was practicing landings to familiarize the passenger with the airplane. During one of the landings, the airplane landed "firm." After noticing added noise in the cabin and the "seats being jarred” they taxied back to the hangar. The pilot reported that a fuselage tube had failed due to a "pre-existing weakened condition." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the airplane reported that the fuselage tube displayed evidence of corrosion.

## Factual narrative

The pilot with one passenger on-board the airplane was practicing landings to familiarize the passenger with the airplane. During one of the landings, the airplane landed "firm." After noticing added noise in the cabin and the "seats being jarred” they taxied back to the hangar. The pilot reported that a fuselage tube had failed due to a "pre-existing weakened condition." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the airplane reported that the fuselage tube displayed evidence of corrosion.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N11EN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-4-220C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2037C
- Airframe hours: 2337
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6A-350SER 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Osky Deuce LLC
- Registered owner: Osky Deuce LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 2009
- Departed: F49, Slaton Muncipal, TX
- Destination: F83, Abernathy, TX
- Airport: F83, Abernathy Airport, runway 17, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,760 total, 116 in this make and model, 1,760 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days
- Co-pilot; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: right

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg

## 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 20090725012909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090725012909A), Jul 25, 2009: Maule M4220C, Abernathy, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On a part 91 flight from slaton (F49) to Abernathy, Texas (F83), N11EN, a Maule M4-220C landed hard causing a compromise of the structural tubing. The…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74523. 743 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 743 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.