# NTSB LAX96LA167: Maule M-5-235C, N9177E, Lake Havasu Cty, AZ, April 14, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 1996, 22:10 local (Apr 14, 1996, 05:10 UTC) - Place: Lake Havasu Cty, AZ - Coordinates: 34.479404, -114.319084 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4794&lon=-114.3191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 20, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29418 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29418/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA167 ## Probable cause the pilot-owner's inadequate engine maintenance which resulted in a progressive ignition failure. Factors which contributed to the accident were the dark nighttime light condition and the presence of hidden obstructions in the forced landing area. ## 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 - maintenance - inadequate, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - engine assembly,valve,intake - open (cause) - ignition system,magneto - failure,partial (cause) - ignition system,ignition points - fouled (cause) - ignition system,distributor - failure (cause) - fuel system,filter - contamination,other than water - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot owned and operated the seaplane and had flown it for 803 hours. During the dark nighttime cruise flight, the engine began surging and then gradually lost power. The pilot planned to make a forced landing at the shoreline of the Colorado River; however, during landing the airplane slid on the grass bank and impacted a 3-foot-high tree trunk. The airplane was subsequently examined, and the following discrepancies were found: (1) Sediment was observed in the fuel filter and carburetor; (2) The number 3 cylinder intake valve was found open and stretched in excess of 0.200 inches; (3) No compression was obtained from the number 3 cylinder; (4) The engine oil was black in color; (5) The magneto's drive end seal bearing was found leaking oil; (6) The left set of points were oil fouled, and the right set of points had oil on the contacts and were coked up; and (7) The left distributor gear was missing a gear tooth. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 1996, at 2210 hours mountain standard time, a Maule, M-5-235C, N9177E, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot made a forced landing on a river bank near Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The float equipped airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial pilot nor the two passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the dark nighttime personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Colorado River, near Bullhead, Arizona, at 2150. According to the pilot, when he was about 12 minutes from reaching Lake Havasu, his airplane's engine began surging, and then gradually lost power. The pilot planned to make a forced landing on the bank of the river. However, upon touchdown the pilot discovered that he had landed so close to the shoreline that the airplane slid on a grass bank and then impacted a 3-foot-high tree trunk. The airplane was subsequently examined by the Federal Aviation Administration and by an independent airplane mechanic. The following observations were made in verbal and written inspection reports: (1) Sediment was found in the fuel filter and carburetor; (2) The number 3 cylinder intake valve was found open and stretched in excess of 0.200 inches; (3) No compression was obtained from the number 3 cylinder; (4) The engine oil was black in color; (5) The magneto's drive end seal bearing was found leaking oil into the magneto; (6) The left set of points were oil fouled, and the right set of points had oil on the contacts and were coked up; and (7) The left distributor gear was missing a gear tooth. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9177E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9177E), registered now, S/N 7125C, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-5-235C - Registry model: [Maule M-6-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-6-235) (registry code 5460160) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7125C - Airframe hours: 981 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J1AD 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Louis D. Bell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 1995, 165 hours before - Departed: IFP, BULLHEAD, AZ - Destination: HII ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,085 total, 803 in this make and model, 8,835 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 170° at 2 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19960413007199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960413007199A), Apr 13, 1996: Maule M5235C, Lake Havasu, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost power near lhu. Tried land on river but landed on bank. Hit stump. Dirt in fuel. Engine and mags not airworthy ## Other investigations on N9177E (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI79FEC41](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEC41), Aug 12, 1979: Maule M-5 (N9177E), Owosso, MI, destroyed 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.