# NTSB ERA22LA052: Maule M-4-220C, N51127, Ridgeway, VA, November 7, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 7, 2021, 08:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place: Ridgeway, VA
- Coordinates: 36.581011, -79.878105 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5810&lon=-79.8781&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA - FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104220
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104220/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104220
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA052

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.

## Findings

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

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/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 engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he conducted a walk-around of the airplane before boarding for the accident flight. After engine start, he noted more fuel in the right tank with the fuel totalizer reading 9.8 gallons and selected that tank for takeoff. After departure, while in the climb, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated he pitched the airplane forward and switched the fuel selector to both tanks just before they impacted trees at the end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot turned off the power and closed the fuel selector valve before egressing the airplane. During a post-accident examination, the fuel strainer was drained and a trace amount of residual fuel was present. Three of the 4 wing tanks were opened with fuel in both left tanks, but the right inboard tank showed no fuel and the right outboard tank was inaccessible. Additionally, the airport owner reported that he met the pilot on the runway after the accident, and the pilot stated, “the engine quit”, and “fuel may have been an issue.” The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51127](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51127), registered now, S/N 2188C, built 1973 (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)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2188C
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 1179
- Engines: Franklin 6A 350 C1 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 2020, 40 hours before
- Destination: W88, Greensboro, NC
- Airport: VA02, Pace, runway 18/36, 3,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 20, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,810 total, 261 in this make and model, 3,730 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: SIF, 9 nm away
- METAR: KSIF 071235Z AUTO 01004KT 10SM CLR 06/00 A3019 RMK AO2 T00581001

## 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 20211107019119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211107019119A), Nov 7, 2021: Maule M-4-220C, Ridgeway, VA, Substantial damage. N11527, Maule M-4-220C, was reported being involved in an accident on November 7, 2021 at approximately 1500 zulu. Accident occurred at Pace Airport (VA02) in…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104220. 5.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12941983&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_N51127_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13062994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Pilot%20statement_Elsner-Rel.pdf
- Pilot advocate statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13063004&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Advocate%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statements (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13063306&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13062954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA22LA052-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13063403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Release%20for%20N51127_Redacted-Rel.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.

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