Flight CTLS N505MA

Summary

On 4 March 2020 at about 19:40 local time, a Flight CTLS registered N505MA, operated by Mauldin Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Encino, New Mexico, United States. One person was 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

4 March 2020 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Encino, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

34.6493, -105.4492

Aircraft

Flight CTLS

Registration

N505MA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Mauldin Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moriarty → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA098

1 person had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which likely resulted from a leak in the fuel system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the preflight inspection, the pilot conducted a visual fuel level check through the sight gauges in each wing. He determined that right wing had 7 gallons of fuel and the left wing had 6 gallons of fuel which he deemed was enough for a one-hour local flight. About 35 minutes after take-off, the engine started to "surge". The pilot manipulated the throttle lever several times, but there were no corresponding responses from the engine. The pilot elected to land on a nearby road; however, as he turned from base to final for the road, the engine "surged to life." The landing gear contacted the grass, and the airplane subsequently came to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed an unmeasured amount of fuel in the right wing, and the left wing appeared to be empty. The gascolator drain valve was opened and no liquid was drained. Because the gascolator was located at the lowest point in the fuel system and contained no fluid, it is likely the engine was starved of fuel. An accumulation of dirt was noted on the fuselage lower belly skin (in the vicinity where a fuel drain tube exits the engine compartment), which was consistent with evidence of a previous fuel leak. Additionally, the area around the engine-driven fuel pump also exhibited evidence of a previous leak. The location of the potential leak could not be determined based on available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.