# NTSB FTW90DPG06: WSK PZL Mielec M18A, N81699, Hunter, AR, July 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 28, 1990, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Hunter, AR
- Coordinates: 35.050186, -91.120933 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0502&lon=-91.1209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22939
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DPG06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22939/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DPG06

## Probable cause

LOSS OF PART OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST COLLECTOR, AS RESULT OF IMPROPER MAINTENANCE REPLACEMENT/INSTALLATION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise
- Fire, cruise
  - exhaust system - leak (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency

## Analysis

WHILE FLYING FROM ONE FIELD TO ANOTHER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE, AN INCREASE IN FUEL PRESSURE, AND SAW FLAMES COMING OVER THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE. A FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED IN A FLOODED RICE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT PART OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST COLLECTOR WAS MISSING. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING SOMETHING FALL FROM THE AIRPLANE, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. THE EXHAUST SEGMENT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY A LOCAL MAINTENANCE FACILITY ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81699](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81699-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N 1Z020-11 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WSK PZL Mielec M18A
- Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wsk-Pzl-K PZL ASZ-62IR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-k-pzl-asz-62ir) (registry code 67203, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12020-11
- Engines: PZL-KALISZ ASZ-62IR-M18 967 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Ken Fabel, doing business as Ken Fabel Fly Service
- Registered owner: Kenneth S. Fabel
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 23, 1990, 100 hours before
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 6,679 total, 256 in this make and model, 6,629 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JBR, 55 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 19900728029359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900728029359A), Jul 28, 1990: Wsk M18DROMADER, Hunter, AR, Destroyed. Engine caught fire. Landed in rice field. Aircraft burned. Exhaust collector ring fell off. Recent installation.

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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