# NTSB ATL88LA217: Mooney M20E, N6810V, Lawrenceville, GA, July 21, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1988, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Lawrenceville, GA
- Location: 33.9529° N, 83.9922° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lawrenceville, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9529&lon=-83.9922&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA217
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7790/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA217

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - maintenance - improper, unknown (contributing factor)
  - fluid,oil - starvation (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,bearing - previous damage (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not understood, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Gear not extended, landing
  - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LANDED DOWNWIND ON THE RUNWAY. HE ELECTED TO LAND GEAR UP TO AVOID A DROP-OFF PAST THE RUNWAY END. THE ACFT SLID OFF THE RUNWAY END, BUT CAME TO A STOP BEFORE REACHING THE DROP-OFF. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #4 ROD BEARING HAD FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS OIL IN THE CRANKCASE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD EXPERIENCED AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE 2 DAYS BEFORE,AND HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE MECHANIC WHO SUBSEQUENTLY EXAMINED THE ENGINE FOUND AN IMPROPERLY SECURED FITTING ON THE PROP GOV OIL LINE. HE ALSO FOUND 1 QUART OF OIL REMAINING. THE MECHANIC SECURED THE FITTING, CHECKED THE OIL FILTER AND SCREEN FOR METAL, THEN SERVICED THE ENGINE WITH OIL. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN SEVERAL TIMES THEN RELEASED TO THE OWNER. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER STATES IN THE ENGINE SPECS THAT THE MINIMUM SAFE OIL QUANTITY IN THE ENGINE IS 2 QUARTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6810V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6810V), registered now, S/N 21-0004, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- Registry model: [Aerostar Acft Corp Of Texas M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerostar-acft-corp-of-texas-m20e) (registry code 5870312) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21-0004
- Airframe hours: 3046
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Brown, Eugene A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1988, 19 hours before
- Destination: WDR, WINDER, GA
- Airport: 17A, Gwinnett Co. Briscoe Fld, runway 7, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,441 total, 1,648 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880721030799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880721030799A), Jul 21, 1988: Mooney M20E, Lawrenceville, GA, Substantial damage. Engine separated on climbout. Landed back on runway. Prior oil line break ran engine on 1 quart oil. Heat distress.

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.

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