Maule M-4-220C N40337

Summary

On 1 June 2013 at about 12:30 local time, a Maule M-4-220C registered N40337 was involved in an accident near Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 June 2013 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Farmers Pride (9N7)

Coordinates

40.4428, -76.4414

Aircraft

Maule M-4-220C

Registration

N40337

Category

Airplane

Year built

1972

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fredericksburg → Brogue

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA268

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the No. 4 cylinder piston pin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while the airplane was in cruise flight, the engine began to vibrate and lose power. The pilot shut down the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder head was partially separated and that the No. 4 piston pin was fractured. The piston pin fractured due to fatigue that had initiated at the pin's outer diameter, and the fracture corresponded to the location of the pin bearing separation from the connecting rod. The bearing fracture surface was obliterated. It is likely that pin and bearing wear altered the stress distribution and precipitated the failure. A review of maintenance records revealed that the 41-year-old engine had been operated for about 1,400 total hours since new and about 50 flight hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 1 year before the accident. In addition, the No. 4 cylinder was overhauled about 23 years and 560 flight hours before the accident. It was also removed, reconditioned, and reinstalled about 4 years and 165 flight hours before the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.