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20031027037539A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Mooney M20J · Ocala, FL · October 27, 2003

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 27, 2003 · 16:15 local
Place
Ocala, FL
Phase of flight
Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N4103H
NTSB investigation
NTSBMIA04LA013
Reported as
Mooney M20J
Reported engine
Continental IO360*
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
1,024 total500 in this make and model22 in the last 90 days
N4103HRegistration cancelled Feb 10, 2004 · Mooney M20JS/N 24-0618 · Built 1978Airframe modelMooney M20JEngine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) While approximately 20 miles southwest of jacksonville, FL on an IFR flight from franklin, NC to orlando, FL, the pilot noticed that his engine oil pressure had dropped slightly below normal. He advised ATC and requested vectors to the nearest airport. Due to thunderstorms in the immediate area, Ocala, FL appeared to be the nearest suitable airport for landing. Oil pressure continued to drop and the engine seized approximately 7 miles northeast of Ocala municipal airport. ATC attempted to vector the aircraft to greystone airport, but the pilot had insufficient altitude to reach the airport, and performed an emergency landing in a field 1 mile west of greystone airport. Initial investigation of the aircraft's engine revealed the number 4 connecting rod protruding through the top of the engine case. A subsequent engine inspection by Lycoming & FAA representatives failed to specifically identify why the number 4 connecting rod bearings became overheated, resulting in failure of the rod cap assembly, and departure of the connecting rod from the crankshaft.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JACKSONVILLE, FL ON AN IFR FLIGHT FROM FRANKLIN, NC TO ORLANDO, FL, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HIS ENGINE OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL. HE ADVISED ATC AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. DUE TO THUNDERSTORMS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, OCALA, FL APPEARED TO BE THE NEAREST SUITABLE AIRPORT FOR LANDING. OIL PRESSURE CONTINUED TO DROP AND THE ENGINE SEIZED APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF OCALA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. ATC ATTEMPTED TO VECTOR THE AIRCRAFT TO GREYSTONE AIRPORT, BUT THE PILOT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AIRPORT, AND PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD 1 MILE WEST OF GREYSTONE AIRPORT. INITIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD PROTRUDING THROUGH THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CASE. A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE INSPECTION BY LYCOMING & FAA REPRESENTATIVES FAILED TO SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY WHY THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS BECAME OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE ROD CAP ASSEMBLY, AND DEPARTURE OF THE CONNECTING ROD FROM THE CRANKSHAFT.

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 MIA04LA013Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportOcala, FLloss of engine power due to oil starvation for undetermined reasons, resulting in an in-flight collision with a fence during a forced landing.Oct 27, 2003 · Substantial damage