# NTSB LAX00LA166: PZL-Mielec M-18A, N62587, Williams, CA, April 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 2000, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Williams, CA - Coordinates: 39.109844, -122.270492 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1098&lon=-122.2705&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49018 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49018/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA166 ## Probable cause A momentary interruption in engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - roll/run - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - fence - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area ## Analysis The pilot said he had been using a 2,300-foot-long gravel airstrip near fields to be sprayed as a staging area for the day's aerial application flights. He completed one application operation and landed to refuel and reload chemicals. The pilot said that the fueling and loading of the chemicals was accomplished with the engine running at idle power. Just after the wheels left the ground during the takeoff, the engine sputtered and momentarily lost power. As the airplane descended back to the runway, the engine power came back. According to the pilot, the airplane was then too fast to stop on the remaining runway and too low to miss a fence at the runway's end. The landing gear contacted the fence and the airplane cart wheeled into a field. An FAA inspector examined the airplane. The radial engine is of Polish manufacture and closely resembles a Pratt and Whitney R1860. The inspector noted that the engine and many of the accessories were impact damaged, and the engine could not be run. He reported that no obvious discrepancies were observed. In addition, he noted that the records indicated that the engine was near the TBO limit. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2000, at 1100 hours Pacific daylight time, a Pzl-Mielec M-18A, N62587, collided with a fence during takeoff from a private agricultural airstrip near Williams, California. According to the pilot, the collision was precipitated by a momentary loss of engine power just after liftoff. The aircraft was operated by Charter Aviation of Williams under 14 CFR Part 137, and was engaged in aerial application operations. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the occurrence. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In a statement to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the pilot said he had been using a 2,300-foot-long gravel airstrip near fields to be sprayed as a staging area for the day's aerial application flights. He completed one application operation and landed to refuel and reload chemicals. The pilot said that the fueling and loading of the chemicals was accomplished with the engine running at idle power. Just after the wheels left the ground during the takeoff, the engine sputtered and momentarily lost power. As the airplane descended back to the runway, the engine power came back. According to the pilot, the airplane was then too fast to stop on the remaining runway and too low to miss a fence at the runway's end. The landing gear contacted the fence and the airplane cart wheeled into a field. An FAA inspector examined the airplane. The radial engine is of Polish manufacture and closely resembles a Pratt and Whitney R1860. The inspector noted that the engine and many of the accessories were impact damaged, and the engine could not be run. He reported that no obvious discrepancies were observed. In addition, he noted that the records indicated that the engine was near the TBO limit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62587](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62587-2017-04-18), registration cancelled 2017-04-18, S/N 1Z026-08 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL-Mielec M-18A - Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: IZ026-08 - Engines: Pezetel ASZ-621R-M18 967 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Charter Aviation - Registered owner: Sterns Co National Bank - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Airport: Pvt Ag Airstrip, runway 36, 2,300 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 65 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 158 °F, dew point 122 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MYV, 95 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 20000421039519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000421039519A), Apr 21, 2000: Wsk M18A, Williams, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported after refilling hooper with rice he taxied to the end of the strip. Shortly after breaking ground, the engine sputtered. The power came… 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.