Byron Aprt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Byron, California 94514
Sunday, June 2, 1991 11:04 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A MAULE M-4-220C COLLIDED WITH A FOUR FOOT HIGH DIRT BANK AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE POWER WAS SURGING DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. AT 75 FT AGL THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN WITHOUT ANY MALFUNCTIONS DURING A POST ACCIDENT EXAM. THE PILOT SUSPECTED POSSIBLE WATER IN THE FUEL OR SEDIMENTS TEMPORARILY BLOCKING A FUEL LINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST FLOWN 1 WEEK EARLIER FOR 1 HR AND 15 MIN. FUELING RECORDS ESTABLISHED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED WITH 8.9 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL AFTER THE FLIGHT. THE FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE ENGINE AVERAGES IN EXCESS OF 12 GAL/HR. THE FAA RECOMMENDS THAT THE FUEL TANKS BE COMPLETELY FILLED AFTER EACH FLIGHT, OR AT LEAST AFTER THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE DAY. THE REASON IS THAT WHEN AIR IN THE FUEL TANK COOLS, THE MOISTURE IT CONTAINS CONDENSES INTO WATER, AND CONTAMINATES THE FUEL. PILOTS SHOULD TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ELIMINATE IT DURING PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY TAKING THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ELIMINATE WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/2/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1104
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BYRON
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94514
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BYRON APRT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4Q5
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 65
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1045 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 281
Weather Observation Facility ID CCR
Elevation of weather observation facility 23
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1020
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44855
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:21AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N40693
NTSB Number LAX91LA239
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MAULE
Aircraft Model M-4-220C
Aircraft Series Identifier M-4-220C
Aircraft Serial Number 2183C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 May 18 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 862
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ANDRE D. BAURY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2806 PORTO ROSA WAY
Aircraft Owner City SAN CARLOS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94070
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ANDRE D. BAURY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2806 PORTO ROSA WAY
Operator City SAN CARLOS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94070
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1104
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SQL
Destination City SAN CARLOS
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --