# Accident 20050218002379A: Mooney M20J, Phenix City, AL, February 18, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 18, 2005, 14:15 local time
- Place: Phenix City, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5833° N, 85.0833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5833&lon=-85.0833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N321DT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N321DT-2006-11-01) (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: LYC IO360LYC*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL05LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA051) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050218002379A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING DESCENT FROM 9,000 MSL FOR LANDING AT CSG, WHILE PASSING 4,000 FEET, MSL PILOT EXPERIENCED LOUD BANG AND SAW COWLING APPEAR TO JUMP. HE LOST POWER AND HAD WINDSCREEN COVERED WITH OIL. ATTEMPTED TO GET VECTORS FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING BUT COULD ONLY FIND AN AREA CLEARED FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION. PRIOR TO LANDING, ACFT LEFT WING IMPACTED TREE AND CAUSED AIRCRAFT TO RAPIDLY DESCEND AND IMPACT ON GROUND. (-23 AMENDMENT) PILOT HAD MADE PREVIOUS FLIGHT TO WINCHESTER, TN. AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS WERE NORMAL AFTER ANNUAL.

## 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 ATL05LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA051), Feb 18, 2005: Mooney 20P (N321DT), Smith, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel failure to properly torque the cylinder head during installation that resulted in the separation from the engine assembly and the subsequent loss of power.

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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