# Accident 20170509004899A: Mooney M20R, Myrtle Beach, SC, May 9, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 9, 2017, 16:30 local time
- Place: Myrtle Beach, SC
- Airport: Myrtle Beach International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6422° N, 78.9186° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6422&lon=-78.9186&mi=10
- Aircraft: N20835, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20835-2019-01-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20R (registry code 5870225, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-550 series (registry code 17042, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20R
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,800 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA175) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170509004899A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 9, 2017, ABOUT 1630 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED MOONEY M20R, N20835, WAS DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM MYRTLE BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MYR), MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED AND PRESUMED SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE FLIGHT WAS DESTINED FOR CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CHS), CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DEPARTED RUNWAY 18 AND BEGAN CLIMBING ON A 180° HEADING. ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, HE "FELT A STRONG JOLT, AS IF SOMETHING HAD HIT [THE AIRPLANE]" AND A FEW SECONDS LATER HE REALIZED THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED. HE ADVISED THE TOWER CONTROLLER THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM, AND PERFORMED A DITCHED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY REMAINED AFLOAT, HE EGRESSED THROUGH THE CABIN DOOR, AND STOOD ON THE WING UNTIL THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK. A TOUR HELICOPTER OPERATING IN THE AREA RESPONDED AND DROPPED A LIFE PRESERVER TO THE PILOT. HE WAS RESCUED BY AN INDIVIDUAL ON A PERSONAL WATERCRAFT.

ATTEMPTS BY A SALVAGE COMPANY TO LOCATE THE SUBMERGED AIRPLANE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.THE PILOT HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH RATINGS FOR AIRPLANE SINGLE AND MULTI-ENGINE LAND, AND INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE. HIS MOST RECENT FAA THIRD-CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED JULY 28, 2015. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD ACCRUED 2,727 TOTAL HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, OF WHICH 1,500 HOURS WERE IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. REVIEW OF THE AIRPLANE'S MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON OCTOBER 1, 2016, ABOUT 154 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED IN NOVEMBER 2016, AND HAD ACCRUED 138 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL. THE ENGINE OIL WAS CHANGED AND THE OIL FILTER ELEMENT WAS INSPECTED THREE TIMES (JANUARY 3, FEBRUARY 2, AND MARCH 20, 2017) SINCE OVERHAUL WITH "NO ABNORMALITIES FOUND". THE ENGINE ACCRUED 46 HOURS SINCE THE LAST OIL CHANGE.

## 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 ERA17LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA175), May 9, 2017: Mooney M20R (N20835), Myrtle Beach, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane sank in the ocean and was not recovered.

## Other reports on N20835 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20120305004129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120305004129I), Mar 5, 2012: Mooney M20R (N20835), Concord, NC, Minor damage. The pilot was landing on rwy 2. He failed to put the landing gear down. The aircraft slid approximately 1000 ft. before stopping. Pilot does not remember…

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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