- Date
- March 7, 2008, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Bishop, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N51430Maule M-4
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080307011799A
- Case key
- 67641
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of engine power due to foreign object ingestion in the induction system, which resulted in a stuck/jammed exhaust valve during the takeoff.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that just after takeoff the engine began running rough and he returned to the airport for a landing. The airplane touched down long and overran the runway. The pilot stated he intentionally ground looped the airplane in an effort to avoid a fence located beyond the overrun area of the runway. Post accident examination of the engine revealed that the alternate induction air valve (automatic air door) was separated from the induction bracket and a 2-inch-long AN3 bolt associated with door assembly was lodged between (holding open) the number six cylinder exhaust valve and corresponding exhaust port.
Factual narrative
On March 7, 2008, about 1500 Pacific standard time, a Maule M-4 airplane, N51430, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power, forced landing and intentional ground loop at the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport, Bishop, California. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, the registered owner/operator of the airplane, and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot departed about 1455 and his intended destination was Columbia, California.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and right wing.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 10, the pilot reported that just after takeoff the engine began "running really rough" and he returned to the airport for a landing on the departure runway. He reported the airplane touched down long and overran the runway. The pilot stated he intentionally ground looped the airplane in an effort to avoid a fence located beyond the overrun area off the runway. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed during the intentional ground loop.
Post accident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector (Reno Flight Standards District Office [FSDO]) and an airframe and power plant mechanic revealed that the alternate induction air valve (automatic air door) was separated from the induction bracket and a 2-inch-long AN3 bolt associated with the assembly was lodged between (holding open) the number six cylinder exhaust valve and exhaust port. The corresponding door hardware, a spiral spring, washer, and cotter pin were not found. The FAA inspector reported that he believes the unfound hardware passed through the engine and out the exhaust.
Maintenance logbook records showed that an annual inspection of the engine was completed on December 28, 2007. No maintenance discrepancies or anomalies with the alternate air valve were noted.
The pilot reported that there were no discrepancies related to the alternate air system prior to the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51430
- Reported as
- Maule M-4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1097C
- Airframe hours
- 4,194
- Engine
- Continental IO-360, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thomas R. Praisler
- Registered owner
- Thomas R. Praisler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 28, 2007
- Departed
- BIH · Bishop, CA
- Destination
- BIH · Bishop, CA
- Airport
- BIH · Eastern Sierra Regional Airpor, runway 12, 7,498 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 20, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,500 total · 180 in this make and model · 1,500 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.