# NTSB NYC01LA175: Yakovlev 52, N48GA, Moultonboro, NH, July 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2001, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Moultonboro, NH - Coordinates: 43.749885, -71.38903 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7499&lon=-71.3890&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52714/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA175 ## Probable cause A clogged fuel vent line due to a mud dauber nest, and rough terrain, including a large hole, in the forced landing field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - object - other (cause) - fuel system,vent - obstructed - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (cause) ## Analysis Approaching the destination airport, the engine sputtered and then quit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field with rough terrain, and during rollout, the right main landing gear hit a large hole. The right wing drove into the turf, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. On-scene examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, but that the left fuel tank still had fuel. Further examination revealed that the main fuel vent line was clogged about 4 to 5 inches from the vent opening by a mud dauber nest. The clog would have been impossible to see during a preflight inspection. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2001, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Yakovlev 52, N48GA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while approaching Moultonboro Airport (5M3), Moultonboro, New Hampshire. The certificated airline transport pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was operating on a visual flight rules flight plan between East Hampton Airport (HTO), East Hampton, New York, and Moultonboro. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he topped off the fuel tanks prior to the flight. The flight was routine until the airplane was about 3/4 of a mile from runway 02 at Moultonboro. The pilot descended and slowed the airplane for landing pattern entry. Then the engine "sputtered to a halt" from what seemed like fuel starvation, although the pilot knew he still had 20 to 25 minutes of fuel onboard. The airplane slowed rapidly and began a high sink rate, giving the pilot about 3 seconds to land. The pilot turned the airplane 180 degrees, to a large hayfield behind the right wing. On short final, there was a row of tall pine trees. The pilot delayed lowering the landing gear until clearing the trees and kept the flaps up, then tried to flare prior to touchdown with no response from the airplane. The airplane hit the ground hard, "but...took it," and began a rollout across "disappointingly rough terrain." When the airplane had slowed to about 40 mph, the right main landing gear hit a large hole, the right wing drove into the turf, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, on-scene examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, but that the left fuel tank still had fuel. Further examination revealed that the main fuel vent line was clogged about 4 to 5 inches from the vent opening by a mud dauber nest. The clog would have been impossible to see during a preflight inspection. The inspector also noted that there was difficulty in removing the fuel tank caps for fuel tank inspection due to the vacuum created by the clogged vent line. ## Aircraft - Registration: N48GA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Yakovlev 52 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 889214 - Airframe hours: 735 - Engines: Vendeneyev M14P 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Wood - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2001, 9 hours before - Departed: HTO, East Hampton, NY - Destination: 5M3, Moultonboro, NH - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 5M3, Moultonboro Airport, runway 02, 3,625 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 16, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 22,825 total, 195 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: LCI, 15 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 20010714017729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010714017729A), Jul 14, 2001: Yaklev YAK52, Moultonborough, NH, No damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power 1.5 NM from Moultonborough, NH airport, final for rnwy 2. Aircraft landed gear down in field. Substantial damage sustained - no… 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.