Maule M7-235B N118G

Summary

On 22 June 2019 at about 17:40 local time, a Maule M7-235B registered N118G was involved in an accident near Sunriver, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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

22 June 2019 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Sunriver, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Sunriver (S21)

Coordinates

43.8644, -121.4550

Aircraft

Maule M7-235B

Registration

N118G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sunriver → Sunriver

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19FA178

1 person died.

A partial loss of engine power due to the separation of baffling in both mufflers. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to retract the landing gear on the float-equipped airplane before performing a forced landing to the river.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger departed on a local flight in the amphibious airplane from a paved runway. The passenger described the airplane's rate of climb after takeoff as "slow" and stated that it was apparent that the airplane would not clear the 50-ft-tall trees ahead. A witness described the airplane as "struggling to gain altitude" and noticed a "definite power loss." The pilot performed a forced landing to a river, where the airplane immediately nosed over and began filling with water. The landing gear was found in the extended position and the water rudders were retracted. The landing gear position indicators were operational and also indicated that the landing gear was extended. The position of the landing gear likely resulted in the airplane nosing over upon impact with the water. Examination of the engine revealed that the muffler baffles had broken at the weld point. The left muffler baffling moved freely inside of the muffler. The right muffler baffling was turned 180° and was obstructing the exhaust outlet. A test run of the engine with the mufflers installed was unsuccessful; however, upon removal of the mufflers, the engine performed with no anomalies. There is no requirement to check the inside of a muffler during annual or 100-hour inspections to ensure that the baffling is intact. It could not be determined as to how long these mufflers had been in this condition. It is likely that the airflow restriction of the separated baffling resulted in a partial loss of engine power and the airplane's subsequent inability to climb after takeoff.             

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.