# NTSB ERA10CA393: Maule M-7-260, N3188L, Onset, MA, August 2, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 2, 2010, 16:51 local (20:51 UTC) - Place: Onset, MA - Coordinates: 41.736667, -70.635002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7367&lon=-70.6350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76833 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA393 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76833/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76833 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA393 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of airplane control during the initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=5460111), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=5460111), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=5460111), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=5460111), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maule M-7-260, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5460111), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after landing the float-equipped airplane in a canal where aircraft were prohibited from landing, he was directed by law enforcement personnel to depart in a northwest direction. The pilot subsequently performed a normal takeoff, and after becoming airborne he banked the airplane to the right and continued to climb in a nose-high attitude. The nose then dropped and the airplane impacted the water. After noticing a puncture hole in the right float, the pilot ascertained that the airplane must have struck an obstacle in the water during the takeoff. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal damage consistent with an obstacle impact. Detailed maps of the canal did not reveal any exposed rocks along the takeoff path and the nearest obstacle would have been 4 feet below the water line. The FAA inspector also viewed a video of the accident flight, which showed the airplane taking off in a level attitude, then commencing a shallow bank right-hand turn. Initially the airplane climbed, but as the angle of bank increased, the nose pointed down to below the horizon and then descended until impact. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, after landing in a canal where aircraft were prohibited from landing, he was directed by law enforcement personnel to depart in a northwest direction. The pilot subsequently performed a "normal takeoff," and after becoming airborne, the airplane "pulled to the right," and continued to climb with a nose-high attitude. The nose then dropped and the airplane impacted the water. The pilot ascertained that the airplane must have struck an obstacle in the water during the takeoff, after noticing a puncture hole in the right float. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal damage consistent with an obstacle impact, detailed maps of the canal did not reveal any exposed rocks along the take-off path, and the nearest obstacle would have been 4 feet below the water line. The FAA inspector also viewed a video of the accident flight, which showed the airplane "taking off in a level attitude, then commencing a shallow bank right hand turn." Initially, the airplane climbed, but as the airplane's angle of bank increased, the nose pointed down to below the horizon, and the airplane descended until impact. The pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3188L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3188L-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N 26021C, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-7-260 - Registry model: [Maule M-7-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-260) (registry code 5460111) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-V4A5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-v4a5d) (registry code 41807, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 26021C - Airframe hours: 300 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-V4A5D 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Page Louis R - Registered owner: Page Louis R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2010 - Departed: WST, Westerly, RI - Destination: Onset, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 17, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 530 total, 300 in this make and model, 530 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: FMH, 10 nm away ## 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 20100802041229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100802041229A), Aug 2, 2010: Maule M-7-260, Bourne, MA, Substantial damage. Pilot landed approximately 1 NM from Bourne bridge on the cape cod canal. Aircraft was escorted out of the canal by the us army corps of engineers boat. Once… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76833. 6.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Damage to left wing (photo courtesy Wareham Police Department) (item 2, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Damage%20to%20left%20wing%20(photo%20courtesy%20Wareham%20Police%20Department)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Damage to left wing viewed from side (photo courtesy of Wareham Police Department) (item 3, .PDF, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335578&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Damage%20to%20left%20wing%20viewed%20from%20side%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20Wareham%20Police%20Department)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Aircraft after recovery from water (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335580&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Aircraft%20after%20recovery%20from%20water%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4: Aircraft after recovery from water. Note damage to right wing (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335581&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Aircraft%20after%20recovery%20from%20water.%20Note%20damage%20to%20right%20wing%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 5: Propeller damage (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335582&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%3A%20Propeller%20damage%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - FAA Statement (item 7, .PDF, 475 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-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.