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19991217041669A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Mooney M20J · New Milford, CT · December 17, 1999

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
December 17, 1999 · 15:00 local
Place
New Milford, CT
Phase of flight
Normal Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N43TP
NTSB investigation
NTSBNYC00LA054
Reported as
Mooney M20J
Reported engine
Continental IO360*
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
2,117 total1,574 in this make and model17 in the last 90 days
N43TPRegistration cancelled Sep 12, 2013 · Mooney M20JS/N 24-1104 · Built 1981Airframe modelMooney M20JEngine modelLycoming I0360 SER A&CReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4) The airplane experienced a propeller strike, and the engine was sent for a teardown inspection. The engine was reinstalled and then run for 0.4 hours. The pilot conducted a preflight, started the engine, and taxiing to the runway. A run-up check was completed, and no abnormalities were identified. The takeoff was uneventful, and the pilot executed closed traffic to a touch-and-go. Afterwards, he departed the traffic pattern, and climbed to 3,000 feet MSL. The pilot configured the airplane for cruise flight. After approximately 30 minutes, the pilot proceeded back to the airport. While en route, he heard a loud 'bang,' and white smoke filled the cockpit. Unable to restart the engine the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. A teardown of the engine was preformed. The crankshaft nose seal was partially dislodged. The number 1 connecting rod was still attached. The number 2, 3, and 4 connecting rods had separated from the crankshaft. Damage to the connecting rod bearings was consistent with insufficient lubrication and high temperatures. No engine-oil-system pre-impact failures were identified.

As the FAA filed it

(.4) THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A PROPELLER STRIKE, AND THE ENGINE WAS SENT FOR A TEARDOWN INSPECTION. THE ENGINE WAS REINSTALLED AND THEN RUN FOR 0.4 HOURS. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT, STARTED THE ENGINE, AND TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY. A RUN-UP CHECK WAS COMPLETED, AND NO ABNORMALITIES WERE IDENTIFIED. THE TAKEOFF WAS UNEVENTFUL, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED CLOSED TRAFFIC TO A TOUCH-AND-GO. AFTERWARDS, HE DEPARTED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND CLIMBED TO 3,000 FEET MSL. THE PILOT CONFIGURED THE AIRPLANE FOR CRUISE FLIGHT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THE PILOT PROCEEDED BACK TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE HEARD A LOUD 'BANG,' AND WHITE SMOKE FILLED THE COCKPIT. UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE WAS PREFORMED. THE CRANKSHAFT NOSE SEAL WAS PARTIALLY DISLODGED. THE NUMBER 1 CONNECTING ROD WAS STILL ATTACHED. THE NUMBER 2, 3, AND 4 CONNECTING RODS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. DAMAGE TO THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS WAS CONSISTENT WITH INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. NO ENGINE-OIL-SYSTEM PRE-IMPACT FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC00LA054Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNew Milford, CTFailure of 3 of the 4 connecting rods for an undetermined reason.Dec 17, 1999 · Substantial damage