# NTSB CHI94LA153: Maule M-4, N12016, Salina, KS, May 9, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 1994, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Salina, KS - Coordinates: 38.810394, -97.610023 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8104&lon=-97.6100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9524/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA153 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - electrical system,alternator - foreign object damage - performed, pilot in command - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis DURING FLIGHT, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED, AND THE PILOT DIVERTED TO SALINA, KS, FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 35 WITH A WIND FROM 050 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS (17.25 MPH). THE DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE AIRPLANE WAS 20 MPH. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED FROM OVERLOAD FAILURE. THE CONTROLLED AIRPORT HAD 2 OTHER RUNWAYS (4/22 & 12/30). THE PILOT HAD ONLY 7 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 1994, at 1020 central daylight time, a Maule ML-4, N12016, owned and operated by Thomas Broughall of Chubbuck, Idaho, ground looped during a precautionary landing at Salina Municipal Airport, Salina, Kansas. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight returning the airplane to Idaho after purchase. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 35 at Salina Municipal Airport (SLN) after reporting a partial loss of electrical power. The pilot reported receiving Atis Alpha with winds of 360 degrees at 10 knots. The SLN weather observation at 0951 central standard time reported winds from 050 degrees at 10 knots. The SLN weather observation at 1040 central standard time reported winds from 050 degrees at 15 knots. (15 knots = 17.25 mph) The pilot stated that during the landing, right aileron and left rudder were required to maintain the runway heading and that during rollout directional control was lost. The airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane departed the runway. The demonstrated crosswind component for the M-4, according to a representative from Maule Air, Incorporated, is 20 miles per hour. Post accident metallurgical analysis of the fractured landing gear attachments revealed no evidence of pre-existing damage or fatigue. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12016](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12016), registered now, S/N 26, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-4 - Registry model: [Maule M-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4) (registry code 5460104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26 - Airframe hours: 2043 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas Broughall - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1994, 10 hours before - Departed: MKC, KANSAS CITY, MO - Destination: HYS, HAYS, KS - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SLN, Salina Municipal, runway 35, 13,337 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 160 total, 7 in this make and model, 103 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 15 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLN ## 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 19940509010359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940509010359A), May 9, 1994: Maule M4, Salina, KS, Substantial damage. Ground looped newly purchased Maule landing in a crosswind. Left main gear collapsed. ## Other investigations on N12016 (3) 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 SEA67F0134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA67F0134), Jul 28, 1966: Maule M-4 (N12016), Oledo, OR, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA66F0204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA66F0204-173732), Jan 25, 1966: Maule M-4 (N12016), Beaverton, OR, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X0458](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X0458), Feb 4, 1964: Maule M4 (N12016), Clackmans, OR, 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. --- 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.