A commercial rated pilot flying a maule M7 experienced an engine failure while towing a banner near ...

Attributes
ACN	439356
Time
Date	199906
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ilm.vortac
State Reference	NC
Altitude	agl single value : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ilm.tracon
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	M-7
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 81 flight time total : 447 flight time type : 63
ASRS Report	439356
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Towing a banner offshore around R-5306D I experienced some engine roughness. I checked full rich mixture, fuel on fullest tank, and turned on the boost pump. After a couple of mins the engine smoothed out, I cut back inland around the restr area and continued my tow. Approximately 20 mins later, at 500 ft AGL the engine quit completely, with the boost pump still on. I dropped the banner about 15 ft offshore and landed on a deserted area of topsail island. There was no damage to persons or property. I was able to relay on 121.5 through air carrier #1 and air carrier #2. Flight to wilmington approach to get some ground help. The mechanics don't know for sure what caused the engine failure at this point, and the aircraft was safely retrieved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMERCIAL RATED PLT FLYING A MAULE M7 EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE WHILE TOWING A BANNER NEAR ILM.

Narrative: TOWING A BANNER OFFSHORE AROUND R-5306D I EXPERIENCED SOME ENG ROUGHNESS. I CHKED FULL RICH MIXTURE, FUEL ON FULLEST TANK, AND TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINS THE ENG SMOOTHED OUT, I CUT BACK INLAND AROUND THE RESTR AREA AND CONTINUED MY TOW. APPROX 20 MINS LATER, AT 500 FT AGL THE ENG QUIT COMPLETELY, WITH THE BOOST PUMP STILL ON. I DROPPED THE BANNER ABOUT 15 FT OFFSHORE AND LANDED ON A DESERTED AREA OF TOPSAIL ISLAND. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY. I WAS ABLE TO RELAY ON 121.5 THROUGH ACR #1 AND ACR #2. FLT TO WILMINGTON APCH TO GET SOME GND HELP. THE MECHS DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT CAUSED THE ENG FAILURE AT THIS POINT, AND THE ACFT WAS SAFELY RETRIEVED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A commercial rated pilot flying a maule M7 experienced an engine failure while towing a banner near ilm.