Maule M-4-220C accident near Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, June 1, 2013
On June 1, 2013 at about 12:30 pm local time, a 1972 Maule M-4-220C, registered N40337, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania (Farmers Pride airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the No. 4 cylinder piston pin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2013 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania · Farmers Pride · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-4-220C, built 1972 · all M-4-220Cs on the register
- Registration
- N40337 · no longer on the register · serial 2112C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while the airplane was in cruise flight, the engine began to vibrate and lose power. The pilot shut down the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder head was partially separated and that the No. 4 piston pin was fractured. The piston pin fractured due to fatigue that had initiated at the pin's outer diameter, and the fracture corresponded to the location of the pin bearing separation from the connecting rod. The bearing fracture surface was obliterated. It is likely that pin and bearing wear altered the stress distribution and precipitated the failure. A review of maintenance records revealed that the 41-year-old engine had been operated for about 1,400 total hours since new and about 50 flight hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 1 year before the accident. In addition, the No. 4 cylinder was overhauled about 23 years and 560 flight hours before the accident. It was also removed, reconditioned, and reinstalled about 4 years and 165 flight hours before the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,100 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 6,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 2012; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350SER (piston); 1,390 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9N7 Fredericksburg PA
- Destination: 9W8 Brogue PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,410 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 12:22 pm from MUI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.