# NTSB WPR20LA098: Flight Design Ctls, N505MA, Encino, NM, March 4, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 4, 2020, 12:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Encino, NM - Coordinates: 34.649261, -105.44918 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6493&lon=-105.4492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101031 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101031/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101031 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA098 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which likely resulted from a leak in the fuel system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flight Design CTLS, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005B), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the preflight inspection, the pilot conducted a visual fuel level check through the sight gauges in each wing. He determined that right wing had 7 gallons of fuel and the left wing had 6 gallons of fuel which he deemed was enough for a one-hour local flight. About 35 minutes after take-off, the engine started to "surge". The pilot manipulated the throttle lever several times, but there were no corresponding responses from the engine. The pilot elected to land on a nearby road; however, as he turned from base to final for the road, the engine "surged to life." The landing gear contacted the grass, and the airplane subsequently came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed an unmeasured amount of fuel in the right wing, and the left wing appeared to be empty. The gascolator drain valve was opened and no liquid was drained. Because the gascolator was located at the lowest point in the fuel system and contained no fluid, it is likely the engine was starved of fuel. An accumulation of dirt was noted on the fuselage lower belly skin (in the vicinity where a fuel drain tube exits the engine compartment), which was consistent with evidence of a previous fuel leak. Additionally, the area around the engine-driven fuel pump also exhibited evidence of a previous leak. The location of the potential leak could not be determined based on available information. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2020, at 1240 mountain standard time, a Flight Design CTLS airplane, N505MA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Encino, New Mexico. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. During a preflight inspection, the pilot conducted a visual fuel level check through the sight gauges in each wing. He determined that right wing had 7 gallons of fuel and the left wing had 6 gallons of fuel which he deemed was enough for a one-hour local flight. About 35 minutes after take-off, the engine started to "surge." The pilot manipulated the throttle lever several times, but there were no corresponding responses from the engine. The pilot elected to land on a nearby road; however, as he turned from base to final for the road, the engine "surged to life." The landing gear contacted the grass, and the airplane subsequently came to rest inverted, substantially damaging the wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination was conducted after the airplane was removed from the accident site. The engine remained attached to the airframe and all engine accessories remained attached to the engine via their respective mounts. The top spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal wear signatures. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand using the propeller; rotational continuity was confirmed throughout the engine and valve train. Thumb compression and suction was also confirmed on all four cylinders. The engine-driven fuel pump was disassembled and the diaphragm appeared normal. However, the fuel pump vent/overflow hose nipple was missing the drain hose which is designed to be routed to a safe neutral air pressure area. Additionally, the area around the fuel pump had evidence of a previous leak. The gascolator drain valve was opened and no liquid was drained. Additionally, the gascolator housing was removed and the filter was missing. Both wings were removed during the recovery operation. The right wing contained an unmeasured amount of fuel and the left wing appeared to be empty. Low air pressure applied to the right wing fuel line fitting resulted in fuel expelled through the vent tube. Low air pressure applied to the left wing resulted in no fuel or air being expelled through the vent tube. Both wing fuel tank caps remained secure; no fuel samples were obtained from the right wing. Examination of the fuselage lower belly skin aft of the engine compartment found an accumulation of dirt in the vicinity of the fuel drain tube which exited the engine compartment in this area. A sample of the accumulated dirt was secured for further examination. The sample of dirt was examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory using a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer to collect and process infrared wavelength absorbance spectra of the unknown material. A spectral library comparison search was performed on the residue spectrum which found spectral matchedto several clays. The search and the combination of spectral peaks indicate that the residue consisted mainly of soil. The presence of any hydrocarbons such as fuel or oil may have been masked by the strong spectrum of the soil present in the sample. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N505MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N505MA-2020-06-18), registration cancelled 2020-06-18, S/N F-08-05-08, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Flight Design CTLS (UNDESIGNATED SERIES) - Registry model: [Flight Design CTLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/flight-design-ctls) (registry code 060005B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-08-05-08 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 638 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mauldin Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Mauldin Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2019 - Departed: 0E0, Moriarty, NM - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,173 total, 329 in this make and model, 2,034.8 as pilot in command, 14.6 in the last 90 days, 3.9 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KCQC, 20 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 20200304001559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200304001559A), Mar 4, 2020: Flight Design Gmbh CTLS, Encino, NM, Destroyed. On March 4, 2020, at 1300 MST, a Flight Design Gmbh, N505MA, registered to maulden aviation LLC, experienced an engine failure during cruise Flight and landed… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101031. 34.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 32.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13189497&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Roc - initial (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13189702&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Initial%20Communication%20-Rel.pdf - Engine and airframe exam (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13189575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N505MA%20-%20Examination%20-%2023Feb2021%20-Rel.pdf - Email report-(residue removed from aircraft fuselage) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13189726&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20report-WPR20LA098%20(Residue%20removed%20from%20aircraft%20fuselage)-Rel.pdf - Photos (courtesy of operator) (item 5, PDF, 9 pages, 897 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13189585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20(courtesy%20of%20pilot,%20embeded%20in%20email)_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.