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| Date: | Wednesday 20 July 2022 |
| Time: | 08:15 |
| Type: |  Maule M-5-235C Lunar Rocket |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N6224M |
| MSN: | 7196C |
| Year of manufacture: | 1978 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 569 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Three Forks Airport (9S5), Three Forks, MT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Three Forks Airport, MT (9S5) |
| Three Forks Airport, MT (9S5) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
During the first flight after the installation of avionics, and an overhauled engine, the engine started to lose power in the traffic pattern. The pilot continued to fly straight in the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and attempted to troubleshoot the problem. Despite his actions, he was unable to regain engine power and subsequently pitched for best glide and made a 180° right turn to land on the runway. By this time, the airplane had traveled too far on the downwind leg, and the airplane landed short of the runway.
Postaccident examination of the engine’s single-drive dual magneto revealed that the right magneto capacitor wire was attached utilizing an automotive terminal, however, the wire had separated from the crimped portion of the terminal. Additionally, the left magneto P-lead had areas of exposed wire, which grounded the left magneto and prevented its operation. The compounded anomalies, on both the left and right magnetos, would have resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Probable Cause: A loss of engine power due to degraded and incorrectly maintained ignition system components. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delay in turning the airplane towards the runway when the engine began to lose power.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105536
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 28 October 1989 | N6224M | Private | 0 | Plattsburgh, NY | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Aug-2022 18:36 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 06-May-2024 11:41 | Captain Adam | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Phase, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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