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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 2, 1991 · Maule M-4-220C · N40693

Byron, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 2, 1991
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Byron, CA
Aircraft
Maule M-4-220C
Tail Number
N40693
Operator
Andre D Baury
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX91LA239

A Maule M-4-220C collided with a four foot high dirt bank after a loss of engine power during takeoff. The pilot reported the engine power was surging during the initial takeoff climb. At 75 ft AGL the engine stopped. The engine started and ran without any malfunctions during a post accident exam. The pilot suspected possible water in the fuel or sediments temporarily blocking a fuel line. The airplane was last flown 1 week earlier for 1 hr and 15 min. Fueling records established that the airplane was fueled with 8.9 gallons of aviation fuel after the flight. The fuel consumption for the engine averages in excess of 12 gal/hr. The FAA recommends that the fuel tanks be completely filled after each flight, or at least after the last flight of the day. The reason is that when air in the fuel tank cools, the moisture it contains condenses into water, and contaminates the fuel. Pilots should take the necessary steps to eliminate it during preflight inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ELIMINATE WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM.

Full Narrative

A MAULE M-4-220C COLLIDED WITH A FOUR FOOT HIGH DIRT BANK AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE POWER WAS SURGING DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. AT 75 FT AGL THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTIONS DURING A POST ACCIDENT EXAM. THE PILOT SUSPECTED POSSIBLE WATER IN THE FUEL OR SEDIMENTS TEMPORARILY BLOCKING A FUEL LINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST FLOWN 1 WEEK EARLIER FOR 1 HR AND 15 MIN. FUELING RECORDS ESTABLISHED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED WITH 8.9 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL AFTER THE FLIGHT. THE FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE ENGINE AVERAGES IN EXCESS OF 12 GAL/HR. THE FAA RECOMMENDS THAT THE FUEL TANKS BE COMPLETELY FILLED AFTER EACH FLIGHT, OR AT LEAST AFTER THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE DAY. THE REASON IS THAT WHEN AIR IN THE FUEL TANK COOLS, THE MOISTURE IT CONTAINS CONDENSES INTO WATER, AND CONTAMINATES THE FUEL. PILOTS SHOULD TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ELIMINATE IT DURING PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:04 PDT
Nearest AirportByron Aprt (0nm N)
Runway22
Runway Length2800 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMaule M-4-220C
Tail NumberN40693
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAndre D Baury
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFranklin · 6A-350-C1 · Reciprocating · 220
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured1
Total3
Crew 1Age 59 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 14 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 52
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time17:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data