# Accident 19970509012899A: Mooney M20C, Torreon, NM, May 9, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 9, 1997, 15:19 local time
- Place: Torreon, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7194° N, 106.2907° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7194&lon=-106.2907&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7853V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7853V-1997-09-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 744 total, 489 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970509012899A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 8,500 FEET MSL, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OBSERVED HIS OIL PRESSURE GAUGE 'INDICATING AT OR NEAR ZERO.' HE STATED THAT HE CALLED ATC AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE 'OIL TEMPERATURE HAD BEGUN TO RISE AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SLIGHTLY ROUGHER.'  AS HE APPROACHED A HIGHWAY ON WHICH HE PLANNED TO LAND, 'THE PROP GOVERNOR CEASED TO REGULATE THE ENGINE RPM AND THE ENGINE BEGAIN TO SMELL REALLY HOT.'  ON LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT STATED THAT 'A GUST OF WIND CAUSED ME TO DEPART THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED SEVERAL SANDY KNOLLS.'  POSTIMPACT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED AN ALUMINUM BALL IN THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER FORWARD PISTON PIN BORE. INVESTIGATORS STATED THAT 'THIS WAS THE RESULT OF THE PISTON PIN PLUG WORKING IN THE BORE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.'  THIS WOULD ACCOUNT FOR METAL PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE OIL SYSTEM AND A RUB MARK ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CYLINDER WALL. THE OIL JOURNAL LEADING TO THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER WAS FOUND WITH METAL PARTICLES EMANATING FROM IT AND THE NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.                            (-23) ON MAY 9, 1997 AT 1520 MDT A MOONEY M20C OWNED & OPERATED BY BRYAN BURNS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ , CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING DUE TO LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AT TORRREON, NM WHILE ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VMC PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS UNINJURED, THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT CORONADO AIRPORT ON MAY 9, 1997 AT 1450 MDT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA185), May 9, 1997: Mooney M20C (N7853V), Torreon, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the forward number four piston pin plug, and the subsequent obstruction of internal oil passages of the lubricating system, which resulted in partial loss of engine power. Factors relating…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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