# NTSB CEN15LA112: Mooney M20C, N6474U, Lonoke county, AR, January 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 17, 2015, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Lonoke county, AR - Coordinates: 34.971111, -91.83139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9711&lon=-91.8314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90627 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90627/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90627 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA112 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: mixture control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance; cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870208), [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 M20C, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, before departure, he conducted an engine run-up, and everything was in the normal operating range. The pilot then departed, and, shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and then came to rest on its belly. Examination of the airplane revealed that no fuel was visible in the right fuel tank and that about 1/2 inch of fuel was visible in the left fuel tank. The carburetor's float bowl was empty of fuel. The carburetor heat and mixture control cables were broken, and they were not attached to their respective points. The end of the mixture control cable was found wrapped around the attachment's bolt to connect it to the mixture control arm. The mixture control arm was removed from the carburetor; the spring under the control arm appeared intact. The cable's break, located under the bolt head, had both a dull and a shiny section, indicating that it may have been partially fractured for some time. A broken mixture control cable or an inadequate fuel supply can cause a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On January 17, 2015, about 1630 central standard time, a Mooney M20C airplane, N6474U, lost engine power shortly after departing a private airstrip in Lonoke County, Arkansas. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he performed an engine a run-up with the engine instruments; everything was in the normal operating range. Just after takeoff, he retracted the gear, and shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. He immediately applied carburetor heat; however, he only got a moment of partial power back. The pilot then selected a nearby highway for the forced landing. The airplane collided with several trees just short of the highway, before coming to rest upright on its belly. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector, noted extensive damage to the right wing, and forward section of the fuselage. A inspection of the fuel tank filler ports revealed, fuel was not visible in the right fuel tank and about half-inch of fuel was visible in the left fuel tank. An examination of the engine was conducted by the NTSB IIC. The engine was rotated by hand; a thumb compression test was done on each cylinder. Engine and valve train continuity was confirmed to the accessory drive section. The magnetos produced a spark at each sparkplug terminal. The electric-driven fuel pump operated, when electrical power was supplied. Both the carburetor heat and mixture control cables were broken and not attached to their respective points. For attachment to the carburetor's mixture control arm, the cable end had been wrapped around the attachment's bolt. The cable's break, which was located under the bolt head, had both a dull and a shiny section. The mixture control arm attached to the carburetor, and would remain at whichever position it was placed. The arm was removed from the carburetor and the spring under the mixture control arm appeared intact. The carburetor float bowl drain plug was removed; no fuel exited the bowl. At 1658, the automated weather reported station located about 15 miles west of the accident site, recorded a temperature of 57 degrees F and a dew point of 36 degrees F. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a risk of carburetor ice at glide power setting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6474U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6474U-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N 2221, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ho-360-series) (registry code 41513, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2221 - Year built: 1962 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 2014 - Departed: Lonoke county, AR - Destination: Lonoke county, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 6,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KLEF, 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 20150117001409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150117001409A), Jan 17, 2015: Mooney M20C, Ward, AR, Destroyed. On January 17, 2015, at 1739 CST, a Mooney M20C , N6474U, operated by an airline transport pilot with a first class medical certificate, experienced an engine… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90627. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Carburetor’s Wire Attachment (item 2, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Carburetor%E2%80%99s%20%20Wire%20Attachment-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.