# NTSB NYC01LA002: Maule M-5, N5638D, Leicester, MA, October 2, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2000, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Leicester, MA - Location: 42.2459° N, 71.9087° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Leicester, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2459&lon=-71.9087&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50382 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50382/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly manage the fuel onboard the airplane, which resulted in fuel starvation, and a total loss of engine power. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering for a field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - fuel system - starvation - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis While in a descent, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power. He declared an emergency, and attempted an engine restart. He tried several different engine control configurations, but could not regain engine power. He did not reposition the fuel selector. While maneuvering at a slow airspeed for an open field, the airplane entered a spin. The pilot was partially able to recover from the spin before impact. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was set to an empty fuel tank. In addition, the fuel line from the engine driven fuel pump to the carburetor did not contain any fuel, nor did the fuel feed line to the engine driven fuel pump. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2000, about 1310 Eastern Daylight Time, a Maule M-5, N5638D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Leicester, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Norwood, Massachusetts, destined for Northhampton, Massachusetts. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. After departure, the airplane climbed to a cruise altitude of 2,500 feet msl. The cruise portion of the flight was completed, and the pilot initiated a descent. Approximately 6 miles past Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), Worcester, Massachusetts, and heading toward Northhampton, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot turned toward Worcester, and declared an emergency to air traffic control. With the propeller windmilling, the pilot tried several different engine control configurations to restart the engine, but he did not reposition the fuel selector. While descending, the pilot identified a field to the left of the airplane. He executed a "tight" turn to the left, and while at a "low" airspeed, the airplane entered a spin. The pilot added, "I entered a spin...[then] dove the plane to gain airspeed, then tried to pullout of the dive. I was not entirely successful, so I crashed." The wreckage was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The left auxiliary-fuel tank was "nearly" full, and the left main-fuel tank was empty. The right main fuel tank was about 1/8 full, and the right auxiliary fuel tank was empty. The fuel selector was set to the left main tank, the right auxiliary fuel transfer pump switch was "ON," and the left auxiliary transfer pump switch was "OFF." The throttle control was full open, the mixture control was full rich, and the propeller control was in the low pitch position. The fuel line from the engine driven fuel pump to the carburetor did not contain any fuel, nor did the fuel feed line to the engine driven fuel pump. The carburetor and fuel strainer were not checked because of inaccessibility from impact damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5638D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5638D-2001-03-30), registration cancelled 2001-03-30, S/N 9003C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-5 - Registry model: [Maule M-5-210TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-210tc) (registry code 5460140) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9003C - Engines: Lycoming TO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tatnall Hillman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OWD, NORWOOD, MA - Destination: 7B2, NORTHHAMPTON, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 669 total, 88 in this make and model, 618 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ORH, 2 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 20001002014989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001002014989A), Oct 2, 2000: Maule M5210TC, Leicester, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) During a VFR flight from norwood, MA. To northampton, MA. At about 6 miles west of worcester airport at an altitude of about 2500 ft. the pilot reported… 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.