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May 29, 2021 · Maule M-5-235C · N9254E

Stanley, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 29, 2021
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Stanley, ID
Aircraft
Maule M-5-235C (1977)
Tail Number
N9254E
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR21LA212

The pilot initiated a descent to the remote airstrip with the intention of performing a low approach to check the runway surface then landing if conditions allowed. About 500 ft before the runway threshold, the pilot applied full engine power, and the engine responded but then began to progressively lose power. He turned on the carburetor heat, confirmed that the engine mixture was set correctly, and began to turn the airplane away from rising terrain. The airplane would not climb, and he maneuvered it through an adjacent canyon, at which time the engine started to regain power. Due to rising terrain, the pilot had limited options to turn around the airplane, so the pilot performed a forced landing. During the landing flare, the airplane struck a log and nosed over. Postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions at the time of the flight were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power. The pilot did not turn on carburetor heat until after the engine started to lose power, so it is likely that pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat earlier in the flight caused carburetor icing that led to the partial loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat in weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing, resulting in a partial loss of engine power and a forced landing during which the airplane struck an object and nosed over.

Full Narrative

On May 29, 2021, about 1100 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-5-235C, N9254E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Thomas Creek Airport (2U8), Stanley, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The pilot reported that the airplane’s takeoff and climb from Johnson Creek Airport (3U2), Yellow Pine, Idaho, about 30 minutes before the accident, was uneventful. When the airplane reached an altitude of about 10,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot reduced engine power and initiated a descent to 2U8, with the intention of performing a low approach to check the runway surface then landing if conditions allowed. About 500 ft before the runway threshold, the pilot applied full engine power, and the engine responded but then began to progressively lose power. He turned on the carburetor heat, confirmed that the engine mixture was set correctly, and began to turn the airplane away from rising terrain at the end of the runway. The airplane would not climb, and the pilot maneuvered the airplane through a neighboring canyon, at which time the engine started to regain power. The pilot continued to assess the surrounding terrain and decided that he would not be able to safely turn the airplane around. He then observed a flat area and maneuvered the airplane to that spot to perform a forced landing at the lowest possible airspeed. During the landing flare, the airplane struck a log and nosed over. Postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The closest official weather observation station, located at McCall Municipal Airport, McCall, Idaho, indicated a temperature and a dew point temperature of about 44.5°F and 37.5 F, respectively, about the time of the accident. According to Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, such conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 MDT
Nearest AirportThomas Creek (3nm SSW)
Runway21
Runway Length2100 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMaule M-5-235C
Tail NumberN9254E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 34 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 2000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 F / 37 F
Altimeter30.18 inHg
Observation Time11:16
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data