McGlashan T-51 MUSTANG N751RM

Summary

On 27 June 2010 at about 16:00 local time, a McGlashan T-51 MUSTANG registered N751RM, operated by Richard L. McGlashan, was involved in an accident near Columbia, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 June 2010 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, California, United States

Coordinates

37.9997, -120.4600

Aircraft

McGlashan T-51 MUSTANG

Registration

N751RM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richard L. McGlashan

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Groveland → Columbia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10LA316

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power during approach due to thermal damage to the engine's electronic ignition module. Contributing to the accident was the builder’s placement of the ignition module near the engine’s exhaust.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental amateur-built airplane had been airborne for approximately 30 minutes on its inaugural flight when the engine stopped producing power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing the main landing gear separated from the fuselage, causing the fuselage to wrinkle and bend. Postaccident examination of the engine's electronic ignition module revealed that it was partially melted. The electronic module had been mounted approximately 5 inches from the engine's exhaust pipe due to lack of clearance between the top of the engine and its cowling. The installation manual for the module states that the maximum ambient temperature for the electronic module is 175 degrees Fahrenheit.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.