# NTSB ERA12CA502: Maule M-4C, N9838M, Lincoln, ME, August 9, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 9, 2012, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, ME - Coordinates: 45.361946, -68.534164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3619&lon=-68.5342&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84653 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA502 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84653/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84653 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA502 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5460105), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460105), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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-4C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5460105), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Maule M-4C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=5460105), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern to familiarize himself with the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot attempted to perform a "wheel landing" (touching down on the main landing gear only and gradually allowing the tailwheel to settle to the ground), and the airplane veered to the left during the landing roll. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron and rudder inputs; however, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, substantially damaging both wings and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane, and stated that he had no prior flight experience in the accident airplane make and model. ## Factual narrative The pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern to familiarize himself with the tailwheel-equipped airplane, with a second pilot who did not hold a flight instructor certificate. At the suggestion of the second pilot, the pilot attempted to perform a "wheel landing," and during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron and rudder inputs, and the airplane nosed over and subsequently came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane, and stated that he had no prior flight experience in the accident airplane make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9838M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9838M), registered now, S/N 2C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M-4C - Registry model: [Maule M-4C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4c) (registry code 5460105) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2C - Airframe hours: 1350 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tardiff Richard A - Registered owner: Tardiff Richard A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2012 - Departed: LRG, Lincoln, ME - Destination: LRG, Lincoln, ME - Airport: LRG, Lincoln Regional, runway 35, 2,804 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 317 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 4,500 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: MLT, 18 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 20120809027169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120809027169A), Aug 9, 2012: Maule M-4C, Lincoln, ME, Substantial damage. First pilot invited second pilot to accompany him on a familiarization flight as second pilot had more experience in make/model aircraft. Second pilot was… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84653. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 632 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Second Pilot Statement to FAA (item 3, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Second%20Pilot%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1 (Courtesy of FAA) - Airplane as it came to rest (item 5, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%20-%20Airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest-Master.PDF - Photo 2 (Courtesy of FAA) - Damage to vertical stabilizer (item 6, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%20-%20Damage%20to%20vertical%20stabilizer-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 7, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.