# NTSB CEN13LA370: Mooney M20J, N205MC, El Reno, OK, June 25, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2013, 08:25 local (13:25 UTC) - Place: El Reno, OK - Coordinates: 35.472778, -98.005836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4728&lon=-98.0058&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- Oklahoma City Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 87299 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA370 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87299/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87299 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA370 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power, which resulted from the failure of the magneto assembly for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the engine abruptly lost power while he was practicing instrument approaches under visual flight rules. His efforts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing to the center median of a roadway. A postaccident examination revealed that the dual magneto assembly was not functioning properly. Although the magneto drive shaft operated during engine crankshaft rotation, the magneto points did not open as required. A teardown examination revealed that the magneto components were worn. In addition, the threaded inserts had lifted out of the mounting block. The magneto assembly was inspected less than 1 flight hour before the accident during an engine propeller strike inspection, and the magneto block, points, and cam were replaced at that time. The accident flight was the second flight since the inspection and maintenance work had been performed. Although the magneto points might have been misaligned due to the threaded insert lifting out of the mounting block, it is unlikely that such a discrepancy would have resulted in a loss of magneto function within such a short timeframe. The magneto failure caused the loss of engine power; however, the cause of the magneto failure could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2013, about 0825 central daylight time, a Mooney M20J airplane, N205MC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near El Reno, Oklahoma. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The aircraft was registered to PWH-Air, LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from Wiley Post Airport (PWA), Bethany, Oklahoma, at 0730. The pilot stated that he was conducting practice instrument approaches under visual flight rules to the El Reno Regional Airport (RQO) when the engine lost power completely with "no sputtering, no coughing, no warning." The pilot's efforts to restore engine power were not successful. He ultimately executed a forced landing to the center median of a roadway. During the landing, the airplane encountered a drainage ditch, which caused the left main landing gear to separate and the nose landing gear to collapse. A postaccident examination of the single drive shaft, dual magneto assembly was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The examination revealed that the dual magneto was not functioning properly. Although, the magneto drive shaft operated during engine crankshaft rotation, the magneto points did not open as required. Further examination noted that the magneto components were worn.At the time of the accident, the airframe and engine had accumulated about 2,600 hours total time, with approximately 435 hours since engine overhaul. The most recent annual inspection was completed in September 2012. However, an engine propeller strike inspection was reportedly conducted less than one flight hour before the accident. The dual magneto assembly was inspected at that time. The accident flight was the second flight since that inspection and maintenance work had been performed. The pilot reported that the magneto block, points and cam were replaced at the time of the magneto inspection. He added that the threaded inserts appeared to have lifted out of the mounting block about 1/32 inch, which would have changed the orientation of the points and possibly caused the excessive wear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N205MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N205MC-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 24-3012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3012 - Airframe hours: 2600 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2012, 1 hours before - Departed: PWA, Bethany, OK - Destination: PWA, Bethany, OK - Airport: RQO, El Reno Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 964 total, 581 in this make and model, 916 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: PWA, 15 nm away ## 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 20130625012679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130625012679A), Jun 25, 2013: Mooney M20J, El Reno, OK, Substantial damage. Aircraft lost power and a forced landing off airport resulted. The aircraft received damage to the wings fuselage, firewall, landing gear, and powerplant. The… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87299. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Maintenance Logbook -- Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Maintenance%20Logbook%20--%20Excerpt-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement Regarding Magneto Examination (item 3, .PDF, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20Regarding%20Magneto%20Examination-Master.PDF - Conversation Record – FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.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. --- 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.