# Accident 20210520009589A: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, Dawson, GA, May 20, 2021 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 20, 2021, 09:45 local time - Place: Dawson, GA - Airport: Dawson Georgia Municipal Airpo - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 31.7714° N, 84.5067° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7714&lon=-84.5067&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9514R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9514R-2022-12-03) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Mooney M20K (registry code 5870220, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 2 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 1,030 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA222) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210520009589A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON MAY 20, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A 1980 MOONEY, M20K19, WITH REGISTRATION N9514R, SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE WHILE ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AS A RESULT OF A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF DAWSON, GEORGIA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (16J). THERE WERE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD WITH SEVERE INJURIES AND WERE MEDEVACKED TO A HOSPITAL IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THIS WAS A PERSONAL FLIGHT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. ON MAY 20, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 0830 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, N9514R DEPARTED ORLANDO APOPKA AIRPORT (X04) DIRECT TO BIRMINGHAM-SHUTTLESWORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BMH). WHILE CRUISING AT 8500 FEET THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE PIC IMMEDIATELY DECLARED AN EMERGENCY DIRECT TO DAWSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (16J). UNFORTUNATELY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO 16J AND HAD TO LAND ON A COUNTY ROAD. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, WINGS, ENGINE AND PROPELLER. DUE TO THE HARD LANDING BOTH THE PIC AND PASSENGER EXPERIENCED A SPINAL DISC COMPRESSION AND HAD TO BE MEDEVACKED TO BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA AND ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING REHABILITATION AFTER BACK SURGERY. ON JUNE 8, 2021, THE AIRCRAFT UNDERWENT A COMPLETE ENGINE TEAR DOWN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN FAA INSPECTOR FROM THE ATLANTA FSDO AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NTSB. THIS ENGINE EXAMINATION OCCURRED AT A HANGAR OWNED AND OPERATED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ LOCATED IN GRIFFIN, GEORGIA. DURING THE EXAMINATION IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CRANKCASE DUE TO AN INTERNAL ENGINE MECHANICAL FAILURE. AFTER A FURTHER EXAMINATION, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE MECHANICAL FAILURE STARTED WITH THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER AND PROGRESSED UNTIL COMPLETE ENGINE BREAKDOWN. ANALYSIS OF THE ENGINE DAMAGED COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT A CONNECTING ROD NUT CAME LOOSE DURING FLIGHT DUE TO IMPROPER TORQUE AND FOR THE LACK OF A COTTER PIN BEING INSTALLED. ALL 12 CONNECTING RODS, BOLTS AND NUTS WERE EXAMINED FOR EACH CYLINDER AND THE COTTER PIN FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONNECTING ROD WAS NOT LOCATED INSIDE THE ENGINE HOUSING. THE NUT FOR THIS CONNECTING ROD WAS LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE OF WEAR OR TEAR OR IT BECOMING DISLODGED AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. ALL OTHER DAMAGED CONNECTING RODS STILL HAD THE BOLTS AND NUTS INSTALLED WITH THE COTTER PINS ATTACHED. ## 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 ERA21LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA222), May 20, 2021: Mooney M20K (N9514R), Dawson, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the No. 4 connecting rod bolt nut with a cotter pin, resulting in a total loss of engine power. ## Other reports on N9514R (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19910831037609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910831037609A), Aug 31, 1991: Mooney M20K (N9514R), Burlington, WI, Substantial damage. Settled into rough field on climbout. Reported power loss,none found. Warm day, over gross weight. - [Incident 19840309012429I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840309012429I), Mar 9, 1984: Mooney M20K (N9514R), Laramie, WY, Minor damage. Actuated gear down switch for landing. Landed gear up. Failed to note gear circuit breaker was popped. 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.