Eastern Sierra Regional Airpor Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bishop, California 93514
Friday, March 7, 2008 15:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that just after takeoff the engine began running rough and he returned to the airport for a landing. The airplane touched down long and overran the runway. The pilot stated he intentionally ground looped the airplane in an effort to avoid a fence located beyond the overrun area of the runway. Post accident examination of the engine revealed that the alternate induction air valve (automatic air door) was separated from the induction bracket and a 2-inch-long AN3 bolt associated with door assembly was lodged between (holding open) the number six cylinder exhaust valve and corresponding exhaust port.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to foreign object ingestion in the induction system, which resulted in a stuck/jammed exhaust valve during the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/7/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Bishop
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93514
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 372223N
Event Location Longitude 1182149W
Event Location Airport Eastern Sierra Regional Airpor
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BIH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4124
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24913
NTSB Notification Source FAA_ROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 7 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2009 8:42AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Las Vegas, NV

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51430
NTSB Number SEA08LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1097C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 3
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 Dec 28 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4194
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Thomas R. Praisler
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Columbia
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95310
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Thomas R. Praisler
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Columbia
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95310
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 BIH
Departure City Bishop
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BIH
Destination City Bishop
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 8 2009 6:00PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 7498
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --