ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 279133
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| Date: | Sunday 7 November 2021 |
| Time: | 09:40 LT |
| Type: |  Maule M-4-220C |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | N51127 |
| MSN: | 2188C |
| Year of manufacture: | 1973 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1179 hours |
| Engine model: | Franklin 6A 350 C1 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Ridgeway, Virginia -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Ridgeway, VA |
| Greensboro, NC (W88) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that he conducted a walk-around of the airplane before boarding for the accident flight. After engine start, he noted more fuel in the right tank with the fuel totalizer reading 9.8 gallons and selected that tank for takeoff. After departure, while in the climb, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated he pitched the airplane forward and switched the fuel selector to both tanks just before they impacted trees at the end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot turned off the power and closed the fuel selector valve before egressing the airplane.
During a post-accident examination, the fuel strainer was drained and a trace amount of residual fuel was present. Three of the 4 wing tanks were opened with fuel in both left tanks, but the right inboard tank showed no fuel and the right outboard tank was inaccessible. Additionally, the airport owner reported that he met the pilot on the runway after the accident, and the pilot stated, 'the engine quitâ€, and 'fuel may have been an issue.†The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper fuel management which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ERA22LA052
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Jun-2022 07:49 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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