# NTSB CEN11CA233: Maule M-4-220C, N4550R, Albuquerque, NM, March 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 17, 2011, 09:26 local (15:26 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.145278, -106.79528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1453&lon=-106.7953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78571/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78571 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA233 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the tailwheel airplane began to "pitch left" during landing. The pilot made crosswind corrections and could not keep the wings level. The left wing touched the runway and the airplane continued forward and then yawed to the right. The pilot was unable to correct the yaw with rudder application and engine power and the airplane exited the runway. The airplane's left landing gear folded when it contacted the terrain off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing spar. The pilot indicated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the tailwheel airplane began to "pitch left" during landing. The pilot made crosswind corrections and could not maintain wings level. The left wing touched the runway and the airplane continued straight. The airplane subsequently yawed to the right. The pilot was unable to correct the yaw with rudder application and engine power, and the airplane exited the runway. The airplane's left landing gear folded when it contacted the terrain off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing spar. The pilot did not indicate that there were any airplane mechanical malfunctions prior to the airplane exiting the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4550R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4550R), registered now, S/N 2017C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-4-220C - Registry model: [Maule M-4-220C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-220c) (registry code 5460114) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2017C - Airframe hours: 1716 - Engines: Franklin 6A-350-C1 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 2010 - Departed: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II Airport, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 226 total, 6 in this make and model, 154 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: AEG ## 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 20110317003889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110317003889A), Mar 17, 2011: Maule M-4-220C, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On March 21, 2011, at about 09:30 mt, a Maule M-4-220C, N4550R, registered to the pilot, was ground looped during landing at Double Eagle II Airport,… ## Other investigations on N4550R (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 DEN90LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA011), Oct 15, 1989: Maule M-4-220C (N4550R), Sterling, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT FAILED TO CORRECT A GROUND LOOP/SWERVE DURING LANDING ROLL. A STRONG CROSSWIND WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78571. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346695&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence - Statement From Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40346659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20Statement%20From%20Pilot-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.