# Accident 19991217041669A: Mooney M20J, New Milford, CT, December 17, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 1999, 15:00 local time
- Place: New Milford, CT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5803° N, 73.4039° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of New Milford, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5803&lon=-73.4039&mi=10
- Aircraft: N43TP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43TP-2013-09-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,117 total, 1,574 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991217041669A

## Narrative

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

(.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.

## 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 NYC00LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA054), Dec 17, 1999: Mooney 20J (N43TP), New Milford, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of 3 of the 4 connecting rods for an undetermined reason.

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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