Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia 30301
Saturday, April 11, 1992 19:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN A BANNER TOWING OPERATION WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED A SUCCESSFUL OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A PARKING LOT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE DUE TO HEAT STRESS. THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED WITH AN ADDITIONAL OIL COOLER IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN OIL TEMPERATURE WITHIN OPERATING RANGE DURING BANNER TOW OPERATIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CYLINDER AS A RESULT OF CYLINDER OVERTEMPERATURE, WHICH RESULTED FROM THE IMPROPER PROCEDURE OF USE OF THE AIRCRAFT IN A BANNER TOWING OPERATION BY THE OPERATOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 4/11/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ATLANTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30301
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1851 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID FTY
Elevation of weather observation facility 840
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 909
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5022
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47050
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51590
NTSB Number ATL92IA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MAULE
Aircraft Model M-5-210
Aircraft Series Identifier M-5-210
Aircraft Serial Number 6036C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 8 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 1355
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR ADS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1050 FLAMINGO DR.
Aircraft Owner City AUSTELL
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30001
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR ADS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1050 FLAMINGO DR.
Operator City AUSTELL
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30001
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FTY
Departure City ATLANTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --