Aviation Accident Summary FTW90DPG06

HUNTER, AR, USA

Aircraft #1

N81699

WSK PZL Mielec M18A

Analysis

WHILE FLYING FROM ONE FIELD TO ANOTHER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE, AN INCREASE IN FUEL PRESSURE, AND SAW FLAMES COMING OVER THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE. A FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED IN A FLOODED RICE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT PART OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST COLLECTOR WAS MISSING. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING SOMETHING FALL FROM THE AIRPLANE, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. THE EXHAUST SEGMENT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY A LOCAL MAINTENANCE FACILITY ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Probable Cause and Findings

LOSS OF PART OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST COLLECTOR, AS RESULT OF IMPROPER MAINTENANCE REPLACEMENT/INSTALLATION.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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