SALINA, KS, USA
N12016
MAULE M-4
DURING FLIGHT, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED, AND THE PILOT DIVERTED TO SALINA, KS, FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 35 WITH A WIND FROM 050 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS (17.25 MPH). THE DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE AIRPLANE WAS 20 MPH. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST, AND THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. DURING THE GROUND LOOP, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED FROM OVERLOAD FAILURE. THE CONTROLLED AIRPORT HAD 2 OTHER RUNWAYS (4/22 & 12/30). THE PILOT HAD ONLY 7 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
On May 9, 1994, at 1020 central daylight time, a Maule ML-4, N12016, owned and operated by Thomas Broughall of Chubbuck, Idaho, ground looped during a precautionary landing at Salina Municipal Airport, Salina, Kansas. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight returning the airplane to Idaho after purchase. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 35 at Salina Municipal Airport (SLN) after reporting a partial loss of electrical power. The pilot reported receiving Atis Alpha with winds of 360 degrees at 10 knots. The SLN weather observation at 0951 central standard time reported winds from 050 degrees at 10 knots. The SLN weather observation at 1040 central standard time reported winds from 050 degrees at 15 knots. (15 knots = 17.25 mph) The pilot stated that during the landing, right aileron and left rudder were required to maintain the runway heading and that during rollout directional control was lost. The airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane departed the runway. The demonstrated crosswind component for the M-4, according to a representative from Maule Air, Incorporated, is 20 miles per hour. Post accident metallurgical analysis of the fractured landing gear attachments revealed no evidence of pre-existing damage or fatigue.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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