# NTSB SEA83FA052: Maule M-5-220C, N51599, Near Asotin, WA, February 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 4, 1983, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Near Asotin, WA
- Coordinates: 46.189651, -117.129615 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1897&lon=-117.1296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39598
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83FA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39598/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83FA052

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,piston - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - wire,transmission(marked) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE FLYING IN THE VICINITY OF THE SNAKE RIVER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. EMERGENCY LANDING AREAS WERE LIMITED. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD NEAR THE RIVER. WHILE IN A RIGHT TURN TO LINE UP WITH THE ROAD, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SINGLE POWER LINE, THEN CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TE #5 PISTON PIN, PN 17658, HAD FAILED. THE AFT PISTON PIN BOSS HAD FAILED, WHICH PERMITTED THE FREE END OF THE CONNECTING ROD TO DAMAGE THE #5 CYLINDER AND THE CRANKCASE IN THE VICINITY OF THE #5 AND #6 CRANKSHAFT THROWS. TOTAL FLT TIME OF THE ENGINE WAS 699.5 HRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N51599 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M-5-220C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5460133
- Airframe hours: 699
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6A-350-C1 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas L. Jordan
- Registered owner: D. C. Jordan Insurance, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 1982, 13 hours before
- Departed: BNO, BURNS, OR
- Destination: PUW, PULLMAN, WA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 650 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19830204002879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830204002879A), Feb 4, 1983: Maule M5220C, Asotin, WA, Destroyed. Piston pin failed. Connecting rod broke engine case. Engine then seized. Aircraft hit a wire and crashed inverted.

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.