Saturday, March 30, 2019

Maule M-5-235C Lunar Rocket, N9281E: Accident occurred April 24, 2018 (and) Maule M-5-180C, N56552, accident occurred March 02, 2017 in Roxbury, McPherson County, Kansas

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms 


Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf   


http://registry.faa.gov/N9281E



Location: Roxbury, KS
Accident Number: CEN18LA148
Date & Time: 04/24/2018, 1400 CDT
Registration: N9281E
Aircraft: MAULE M 5-235C
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis 

The private pilot had landed to check on a field for his cattle and was subsequently departing from a road in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that, as the tailwheel lifted off, the airplane turned to the left. The pilot said that he was slow to respond with rudder input and that his rudder application was inadequate. The airplane traveled left a few feet and the left wingtip hit a highway sign as the airplane became airborne. The pilot continued the takeoff over a tower and its guy wires, but, because he was aware of the structural damage to the airplane, he performed a precautionary landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted trees. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff from a road, which resulted in impact with a sign.

Findings

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Sign/marker - Contributed to outcome
Tree(s) - Contributed to outcome

Factual Information

On April 24, 2018, about 1400 central daylight time, a Maule M 5-235C airplane, N9281E, impacted a road sign during takeoff from a roadway near Roxbury, Kansas. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane received substantial wing damage during the impact with the sign, and trees and terrain during the subsequent forced landing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for the Mc Pherson Airport, near Mc Pherson, Kansas.

According to the pilot's accident report, the flight was departing from a county road with a crosswind present for a cross country flight. As the tail wheel left the asphalt, propeller torque caused the airplane to shift its direction of takeoff a few degrees to the left. The pilot said that he was slow to respond with rudder input, and the response was also inadequate. The airplane traveled left a few ft and the airplane's left wingtip hit a highway sign as the airplane was leaving the ground. The left-wing impact caused the airplane to turn an additional 20° to 40° left and decreased left-wing lift while not affecting the right wing. The pilot was able to overcome the left and right-wing lift imbalance and was able to "generally regain control." The airplane was still operating with full power, with full flaps, and was climbing rapidly. The pilot was concerned about the visible left-wing control surface damage. However, the airplane was now heading directly at a cell tower with guy wires. The pilot elected to keep the wings level and continued the climb over the tower. He reduced power once he cleared the tower. He subsequently elected to land in a field that had a tree line at the end of the field. The pilot attempted to execute a short field landing. However, he impacted the trees "about 40" kts. The pilot indicated in his report that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions.

The pilot's safety recommendation, in part, stated, "The bottom line is that I have determined that using roads for takeoff and landing is outside the boundaries of my new acceptable risk profile. ... A few practice takeoffs and landings at an airstrip would have been very beneficial given the 100 day interval between last flight."

At 1353, the recorded weather at the Salina Regional Airport, near Salina, Kansas, was: Wind 320° at 21 kts; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered clouds at 11,000 ft; temperature 20° C; dew point 9° C; altimeter 30.16 inches of mercury. Remarks peak wind 320° at 27 kts at 1341.

History of Flight

Takeoff
Collision during takeoff/land (Defining event)

Emergency descent
Off-field or emergency landing

Landing
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 57, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:No 
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/14/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/16/2017
Flight Time:  479.9 hours (Total, all aircraft), 102.6 hours (Total, this make and model), 459 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: MAULE
Registration: N9281E
Model/Series: M 5-235C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 7155C
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/14/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1062 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-540-J1A5D
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 235 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSLN, 1289 ft msl
Observation Time: 1353 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 323°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 11000 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 20°C / 9°C
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 21 knots, 320°
Visibility (RVR): 
Altimeter Setting: 30.16 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Roxbury, KS
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: MC PHERSON, KS (MPR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1400 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude:  38.551111, -97.427222 (est)




Maule M-5-180C, N56552: Accident occurred March 02, 2017 in Roxbury, McPherson County, Kansas 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office: Wichita, Kansas 

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N56552



Location: Roxbury, KS
Accident Number: GAA17CA170
Date & Time: 03/02/2017, 1315 CST
Registration: N56552
Aircraft: MAULE M5
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis 

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing on a road in gusting crosswind conditions, the right wing lifted to about a 60° angle. He immediately initiated a go-around and added full power and right aileron and lowered the nose. The airplane had drifted off the center of the road to the left heading toward power lines, and the pilot chose to go under them. After the airplane cleared the power lines, the left wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane cart-wheeled. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a go-around.

Findings

Aircraft
Directional control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Crosswind - Effect on operation
Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) - Decision related to condition

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing
Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Other
Attempted remediation/recovery
Abrupt maneuver
Low altitude operation/event
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Dragged wing/rotor/float/other
Roll over 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 56, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/20/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/09/2016
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 367 hours (Total, all aircraft), 153 hours (Total, this make and model), 326 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 11 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: MAULE
Registration: N56552
Model/Series: M5 180C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1984
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 8080C
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 11/19/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1115.8 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360-CIF
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSLN, 1289 ft msl
Observation Time: 1853 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 1°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C / -6°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 13 knots, 330°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.44 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: CAMDENTON, MO (OZS)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Roxbury, KS
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1010 CST
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  38.550833, -97.652778 (est)

By the time emergency personnel arrived at the site of a Kansas plane crash this week, the uninjured pilot already had:

Cleaned his personal belongings out of the plane.

Walked to a nearby bank.

Attended a business meeting.

Called federal aviation and transportation officials.

And caught a ride out of town.

The pilot, Randy Shannon, had no idea that local authorities considered him “missing” after a passerby spotted the crumpled plane Thursday afternoon in a field near Roxybury, Kansas, and called 911.

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