PITTSBURGH, PA, USA
N218MA
Anderson Aircraft Corp. MA-18
The pilot was attempting to ferry the airplane for friends, who had just purchased it. During the preflight, he checked the fuel, and drained the gascolater for water, but found none. He performed engine checks, and taxi-tested the airplane on the runway several times. He then took off and flew around the airport, then headed toward his destination. Fifteen minutes into the flight, with fuel coming from the left tank, the engine quit. The pilot switched to the right tank, and nothing happened. He pumped the throttle, and the engine ran for about 10 seconds and quit again. He confirmed that the fuel selector was in the detent, then applied carburetor heat. The engine started momentarily, then quit once more, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a grassy field. Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. During post-accident examination, less than 1 gallon of fuel could be drained from the left fuel tank, and the fuel could not be turned off until all fuel was gone from the left tank. An FAA inspector subsequently ran the engine with fuel supplied from the right tank. He also noted that only one header tank was installed, the fuel valve was close to the floor, and the fuel lines were small. The pilot had less than 1 hour of flight time in make and model
On May 17, 2000, at 1158 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt MA-18, N218MA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following an engine failure, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, from a private airstrip in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, to Finleyville Airpark (G05), Finleyville, Pennsylvania. The ferry flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the airplane did not have a current annual inspection, but was operating under a Special Flight Permit for the flight. The pilot stated that he was ferrying the airplane for some friends, who had just purchased it. He "did a thorough preflight, checked [the] fuel, controls, engine oil, and drained [the] gascolater for water, [but] found none." He then "taxi-tested [the] aircraft up and down the runway several times. Checked mags, carb heat, etc. Took off and flew around the airport, everything checked o.k." The pilot then turned the airplane toward the destination airport, and 15 minutes into the flight, the engine quit. The pilot was utilizing fuel from the left tank at the time. He switched to the right tank, and nothing initially happened. He pumped the throttle, and the engine "fired up, ran for about 10 seconds and quit again." The pilot confirmed that the fuel selector was in the detent, then applied carburetor heat. The engine "started momentarily," then quit for the last time. The pilot performed a forced landing to a grass-covered field, but during the landing, the left main landing gear axle broke, the airplane went over onto its nose, then onto its right wing. The pilot reported he had 1 hour of flight time in make and model. One of the FAA inspectors reported that during post-accident examination, less than 1 gallon of fuel could be drained from the left fuel tank. The inspector also observed that "the fuel could not be turned off until all fuel was gone from the left tank." The inspector subsequently ran the engine with fuel supplied from the right tank, but also noted that "only one header tank was installed, the fuel valve was close to the floor, and the fuel lines were small."
The pilot's improper fuel management which resulted in the loss of power, and his improper flare during the forced landing, which resulted in a hard landing. Factors included a restricted fuel supply due to a design flaw in the header tank/fuel valve/supply line combination, and the pilot's lack of experience in airplane make and model.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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