# Accident 20000713028939A: Mooney M20J, Espinola, NM, July 13, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 13, 2000, 15:15 local time
- Place: Espinola, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.0007° N, 106.0594° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0007&lon=-106.0594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N201DK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201DK-2007-02-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1B6
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 310 total, 35 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN00LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA143) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000713028939A

## Narrative

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

(.4)DURING CLIMB FOLLOWING TAKEOFF THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WENT TO 0 AND THE OIL TEMPERATURE INCREASED. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER, AND LOOKED FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING SITE IN THE ROUGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN HE WAS OVER FLYING.   WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD WITH AN UNEVEN SURFACE.  DURING LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE FIREWALL. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER 3 CONNECTING ROD BEARING HAD FAILED DUE TO OIL STARVATION FOLLOWED BY FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 CONNECTING ROD.  THE NUMBER I CONNECTING ROD BEARING HAD ALSO FAILED DUE TO REDUCED LUBRICATION.  THE ENGINE CONTAINED 7 QUARTS OF AVIATION GRADE LUBRICATING OIL AND THE OIL PUMP AND INTERNAL OIL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WERE OPEN AND FUNCTIONED IN A NORMAL FASHION.  THE CORRECT PARTS WERE VERIFIED.                  (-23)THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^          DEPARTED FROM LOS ALAMOS NM AIRPORT IN A MOONEY M20J, REGISTRATION N201DK AT APPROX. 1515 LOCAL TIME AND WHEN APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO, AND OIL TEMPERATURE ROSE HIGH, HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO LOS AL AMOS AIRPORT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VIBRATE, HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND ATTEMPTED AN EMEGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED ON LANDING.  THERE WAS NOT OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 DEN00LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA143), Jul 13, 2000: Mooney M20J (N201DK), Espanola, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. A factor was a complete loss of power due to mechanical failure.

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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