Pilot Debrief

MAULE MXT-7-180 near Parkers Parairie, MN — 2013-02-21

Final reportCEN13FA172
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Date
2013-02-21
Location
Parkers Parairie, MN, USA
Aircraft
MAULE MXT-7-180
Registration
N9229Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to transfer fuel from the auxiliary fuel tanks to the main fuel tanks in a timely manner, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was returning home from a cross-country business trip when the accident occurred. A witness reported hearing a "loud pop" that sounded like an "engine backfiring" followed by the sound of impact. Another witness reported seeing the airplane flying low and hearing the engine sputter just before the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane impacted a snow-covered field and traveled about 300 ft before it came to rest. First responders reported smelling fuel near the main wreckage. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have resulted in the accident. The airplane's fuel tanks were filled before departure. Each main fuel tank held 20 gallons of usable fuel, and each auxiliary fuel tank held 15 gallons of fuel. The main fuel tanks supplied fuel to the engine. The fuel selector was found in the "both" position. The auxiliary fuel tanks replenished the main fuel tanks via transfer pumps that were turned on by switches in the cockpit when needed; the fuel transfer pump switches were not located in the wreckage. The airplane's estimated fuel consumption rate was about 9 gallons per hour. According to the tachometer, the flight was 4.1 hours long, which would have used about 37 gallons of fuel plus additional fuel for taxi and climb. Thus, it is likely that the pilot did not transfer fuel from the auxiliary fuel tanks to the main fuel tanks in a timely manner, which resulted in the engine being starved of available fuel.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land at a different location before engine issues arose.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 25 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents25

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