# Accident 20100921044529A: Mooney M20C, Visalia, CA, September 21, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 21, 2010, 09:40 local time
- Place: Visalia, CA
- Airport: Visalia
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.3186° N, 119.3928° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3186&lon=-119.3928&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6090Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6090Q-2011-06-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10LA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA465) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100921044529A

## Narrative

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

0940, 21 SEPTEMBER, 2010 VISALIA, CA. DURING TAKEOFF JUST AFTER ROTATION, THE PILOT HEARD A 'BANG' AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO 1500. THE PILOT TRIED TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY BUT WAS UNABLE TO EXECUTE A NORMAL LANDING DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SPEED AND ALTITUDE. THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE THEN THE AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING. THE NOSE WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT SLID OFF OF RUNWAY 12 AND STRUCK A RUNWAY SIGN. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.EXAMINAION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT THE LOWER SPARK PLUG ON NUMBER 3 CYLINER HAD EXITED THE CYLINDER AND WAS HANGING BY THE PLUG WIRE. THE PILOT IS AN A & P MECHANIC WITH INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION WHO DOES HIS OWN MAINTENANCE. THE MAINTENANCE LOG SHOWS THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN CLEANED AND GAPPED AT TACH 443 HOURS. (THE TACH NOW SHOWS 457.1 HOURS.) THE PILOT/ MECHANIC STATED THAT HE ALWAYS USED A TORQUE WRENCH SET AT THE CORRECT VALUE FOR SPARK PLUG INSTALLATION.

## 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 WPR10LA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA465), Sep 21, 2010: Mooney M20C (N6090Q), Visalia, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during takeoff, which resulted from the failure of the spark plug retention mechanism.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.