Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Loss of Control on Ground: Maule MX-7-180A Sportplane, N1052T; accident occurred October 21, 2019 at Muskeget Island Airport (MA55), Ipswich, Massachusetts






Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Burlington, Massachusetts

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

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

https://registry.faa.gov/N1052T

Location: Nantucket, MA
Accident Number: GAA20CA041
Date & Time: 10/21/2019, 1330 EDT
Registration: N1052T
Aircraft:Maule MX7 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot reported that he performed three low passes and briefly touched down on the 750-ft-long grass runway to test the surface before conducting a full-stop landing. The pilot stated that, while landing to the northeast, the airplane bounced and veered right, and he attempted to correct using left rudder. During the landing roll, he heard a noise that sounded like branches brushing against the right side of the airplane and decided to go around by applying full power and retracting the flaps. Concerned that the airplane would not clear the large bush at the end of the runway, he reduced the power to idle and used left rudder to steer the airplane left of the bushes. The airplane impacted the bushes, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing lift struts and the elevator. 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 landing on a grass runway in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in impact with a large bush.

Findings

Aircraft
Directional control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Soft surface - Effect on operation (Cause)
Gusts - Effect on operation (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-landing roll
Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Attempted remediation/recovery 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 53, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/29/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/14/2018
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1790 hours (Total, all aircraft), 55 hours (Total, this make and model), 1547 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 55 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Maule
Registration: N1052T
Model/Series: MX7 180A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1998
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 20054C
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/09/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2400 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2308.5 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360-C4F
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: KACK, 47 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1753 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 114°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3100 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 4000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 20 knots / 27 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 20°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Nantucket, MA (ACK)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Muskeget Island, MA (MA55)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1310 EST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Muskeget Island (MA55)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 90 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Soft; Vegetation
Runway Used: NE
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 1100 ft / 25 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.334722, -70.299444 (est)

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