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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 26, 1982 · Maule M-5-220C · N2VB

Near Ocala, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 26, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Near Ocala, FL
Aircraft
Maule M-5-220C
Tail Number
N2VB
Operator
Victor Beltram
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA83LA035

The pilot reported that during flight, the engine stopped and the cockpit filled with smoke. He shut down fuel to the engine and started to glide toward an airport, but it was too far away. He then selected a field, but had to stay high on final approach to avoid a TV antenna. The field sloped downhill and the pilot was unable to slow the plane enough to stop before the end. Therefore, he pulled the plane up and came to rest in a tree top. The doors were jammed, so he broke out a window with his hands. The pilot stated that he climbed out and down a tree, but the passenger (his wife) remained in the tree and waited to be rescued. She went to a hospital where gasoline was rinsed off and she was examined. A teardown of the engine revealed that the #3 piston pin, Franklin PN 20504F, had failed. The engine had a total of 367 hrs flying time.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. HE SHUT DOWN FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND STARTED TO GLIDE TOWARD AN AIRPORT, BUT IT WAS TOO FAR AWAY. HE THEN SELECTED A FIELD, BUT HAD TO STAY HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH TO AVOID A TV ANTENNA. THE FIELD SLOPED DOWNHILL AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE PLANE ENOUGH TO STOP BEFORE THE END. THEREFORE, HE PULLED THE PLANE UP AND CAME TO REST IN A TREE TOP. THE DOORS WERE JAMMED, SO HE BROKE OUT A WINDOW WITH HIS HANDS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CLIMBED OUT AND DOWN A TREE, BUT THE PASSENGER (HIS WIFE) REMAINED IN THE TREE AND WAITED TO BE RESCUED. SHE WENT TO A HOSPITAL WHERE GASOLINE WAS RINSED OFF AND SHE WAS EXAMINED. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #3 PISTON PIN, FRANKLIN PN 20504F, HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD A TOTAL OF 367 HRS FLYING TIME.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMaule M-5-220C
Tail NumberN2VB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorVictor Beltram
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFranklin · 6A-350-C1 · Reciprocating · 220
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 61 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point17 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time11:55

Appendix: Source Data