What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) While on a short final approach, the engine quit. When the runway could not be reached, a forced landing was made into a shallow bay adjacent to the flight path, to avoid obstacles. Following the accident, the engine was disassembled and examined. During the examination, the fuel pump diaphragm was found perforated, which would allow fuel to be dumped overboard, during flight. An examination of the maintenance records indicated that the fuel pump was not inspected nor repaired during the last engine overhaul. The pilot indicated in his report of the accident that he and his passenger had smelled fuel at one point during the cross country flight. Since the odor did not persist, the flight was continued. (-23) N8385E left warner robbins, Georgia direct Marathon, Florida. The Mooney N8385E experienced fuel exhaustion 1/2 mile from Marathon Airport, with substantial damage to aircraft, and serious injuries to both occupants. After investigation, it has been determined that a ruptured diaphragm in the fuel pump was the cause of excess fuel used in flight.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL APPROACH, THE ENGINE QUIT. WHEN THE RUNWAY COULD NOT BE REACHED, A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO A SHALLOW BAY ADJACENT TO THE FLIGHT PATH, TO AVOID OBSTACLES. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE WAS DISASSEMBLED AND EXAMINED. DURING THE EXAMINATION, THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM WAS FOUND PERFORATED, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FUEL TO BE DUMPED OVERBOARD, DURING FLIGHT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED DURING THE LAST ENGINE OVERHAUL. THE PILOT INDICATED IN HIS REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT THAT HE AND HIS PASSENGER HAD SMELLED FUEL AT ONE POINT DURING THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. SINCE THE ODOR DID NOT PERSIST, THE FLIGHT WAS CONTINUED. (-23) N8385E LEFT WARNER ROBBINS, GEORGIA DIRECT MARATHON, FLORIDA. THE MOONEY N8385E EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION 1/2 MILE FROM MARATHON AIRPORT, WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT, AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO BOTH OCCUPANTS. AFTER INVESTIGATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT A RUPTURED DIAPHRAGM IN THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE CAUSE OF EXCESS FUEL USED IN FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.