# NTSB CEN10LA098: Mooney M20R, N782LU, La Veta, CO, January 17, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 2010, 15:06 local (22:06 UTC)
- Place: La Veta, CO
- Coordinates: 37.523887, -105.009162 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5239&lon=-105.0092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Prior to flight: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75279/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75279
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA098

## Probable cause

A fuel leak and subsequent fire due to a mechanical defect.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Prior to flight: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Mooney M20R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=5870225), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot had just made a turn during taxi when he heard a “pop” and saw smoke and flames coming from the engine area. He stopped the plane, shut down the engine, and exited the airplane as the fuselage became engulfed in flames. By the time the fire was extinguished the fuselage had been mostly consumed by fire. Examination of the wreckage revealed a localized area of high temperature thermal damage in the engine compartment located directly behind the fuel flow transducer. Examination of the fuel transducer revealed the outlet fuel line was loose at the crimp of the fuel line connector where it attached to the outlet elbow. Upon removal, a portion of interior rubber hose was found missing from underneath the steel braid as well as a portion of steel braiding. The missing portion of the steel braid was absent pre-fire, which interfered with the crimp seal and subsequently resulted in a fuel leak and fire. The cause of the missing steel braid was not determined.

## Factual narrative

On January 17, 2010, at 1506 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20S airplane, N782LU, was substantially damaged after catching fire during taxi for takeoff at the Cuchara Valley Airport (07V), La Veta, Colorado. The private pilot received minor injuries. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated he had just made a turn during taxi when he heard a “pop” and saw smoke and flames coming from the engine area. He stopped the airplane, shut down the engine, and exited the airplane as the fuselage became engulfed in flames. By the time the fire was extinguished the fuselage had been mostly consumed by fire. The engine compartment was intact and the engine was still attached to the airframe. The majority of the damage was located between the engine and the firewall. The rear portion of the engine compartment exhibited fire damage particularly in the area of the fuel flow transducer and the aft left lower section of the engine compartment. The firewall had a localized area of high temperature thermal damage where the firewall material had turned white. The area was located directly behind the fuel flow transducer. The fuel flow transducer (Mooney Part #880030) with a section of fuel line from both the inlet side and the outlet side was examined by the NTSB Materials Laboratory. The associated fuel lines were standard steel braided sleeved, rubber fuel hose. The inlet connector for the transducer was an AN-816 straight, pipe to tube adapter. The outlet connector was a MS 51508 45-degree, pipe to tube elbow (male pipe end). The transducer was x-rayed with the fuel lines attached to determine if there was any damage to the interior prior to tear down. There were no obvious defects found in the x-rays of the transducer. The fuel lines were then removed to inspect the interior of the fuel transducer. During disassembly, the outlet fuel line was found to be loose at the crimp of the fuel line connector where it attached to the outlet elbow. Upon removal, approximately 0.75 inch of interior rubber hose was found missing from underneath the steel braid as well as a portion of steel braid approximately 0.25 inch wide and 0.25 inch in length. The interior rubber hose that remained appeared to have thermal damage. The section where the steel braid was missing did not appear to have any thermal damage. The cause of the missing steel braid was not determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N782LU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N782LU-2010-04-14), registration cancelled 2010-04-14, S/N 29-0314, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20R
- Registry model: [Mooney M20R](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20r) (registry code 5870225) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 29-0314
- Airframe hours: 350
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 2009
- Departed: 07V, La Veta, CO
- Destination: ALS, Alamosa, CO
- Airport: 07V, Cuchara Valley Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 350 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg

## 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 20100117026729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100117026729A), Jan 17, 2010: Mooney M20R, La Veta, CO, Destroyed. While making a 180 turn on the runway in preparation for takeoff of runway 6 the pilot heard a muffled "pop" sound when he advanced the throttle followed by…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75279. 3.1 MB in all.

- Fire - Factual Report 11-007 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fire%20-%20Factual%20Report%2011-007-Master.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 444 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo - Airplane Wreckage (item 3, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344145&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Airplane%20Wreckage-Master.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 4, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF

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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