Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER N168RA

Summary

On 14 July 1995 at about 18:30 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER registered N168RA, operated by Kratz, Mike, was involved in an accident near Clinton, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 1995 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Clinton, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

38.3694, -93.7597

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A DROMADER

Registration

N168RA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kratz, Mike

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Helena → Lees Summit

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI95LA221

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's not using the flight manual and not understanding the fuel management for this particular airplane. Factors were the fuel system vent partial blockage and information unclear (phraseology) for the fuel management valve.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Although the pilot had accumulated 2,400 hours flight time in the type of airplane involved in this accident, he stated that he had never flown one with the fuel management system this one had. He stated that he did not read the flight manual. Because he had previously noted uneven fuel flow from the tanks, he did not think it unusual that the low fuel warning light on the left tank came on therefore he elected to continue flight. About fifteen minutes later the engine lost power and necessitated a forced landing. There was a handle in this airplane marked 'Overflow Fuel Valve - Pull.' The manual indicates that this valve is intended to prevent engine failure in flight, by equalizing the fuel between left and right fuel tanks. The pilot said he thought it was some sort of dump valve and made no attempt to use it. Other operators of this type of airplane stated that they had experienced fuel vent problems when they imported and assembled the airplane. This airplane had operated 1.7 hours prior to the accident flight and then operated 2.5 hours prior to the power loss.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.