# NTSB CEN16LA200: Mooney M20, N6371Q, Little Rock, AR, May 13, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2016, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Little Rock, AR - Coordinates: 34.833332, -92.25222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8333&lon=-92.2522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93279/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93279 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA200 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private-rated pilot was taking off in the airplane when the airplane's engine began to sputter and lose power. He elected to reduce engine power and land on the remaining runway; however, he had already retracted the landing gear. The pilot lowered the landing gear handle, but was not able to lock the gear into place before the airplane impacted the runway and the nose gear collapsed. Postaccident examination of the airplane found water in the left and right wing fuel tanks, as well as the engine's carburetor. It is likely that the loss of engine power was a result of the water contamination of the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2016, about 0930 central daylight time, a Mooney M20F airplane, N6371Q, conducted a forced landing while departing the North Little Rock Municipal airport (KORK), near Little Rock, Arkansas. The private rated pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. The airplane was registered to and operated by Barefoot Aviation LLC, Little Rock, Arkansas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, that after takeoff, about the time he retracted the landing gear, the engine started to "sputter". The pilot lowered the landing gear and tried to land and stop on the remaining runway. However, the airplane landed hard on the nose gear and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest just off the end of the runway. The airplane sustained damage to the nose of airplane, including substantial damage to the firewall. The airplane was moved back to the owner's hangar, and remained there, until the insurance company sold the wreckage. The new owner recovered the airplane and had the airplane transferred to a maintenance facility. Personnel at the maintenance facility reported that during recovery of the airplane, water was found in the left and right fuel tanks. Additionally, water was found in the engine's carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6371Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6371Q), registered now, S/N 670454, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20 (F) - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 670454 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 5090.1 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2015 - Departed: KORK, Little Rock, AR - Destination: KHKA, Blytheville, AR - Airport: KORK, North Little Rock Muncipal, runway 05, 5,002 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,600 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KLIT ## 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 20160513005639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160513005639A), May 13, 2016: Mooney M20F, North Little Ro, AR, Substantial damage. On may 13, 2016 at 0945 CDT, an Mooney M20F, N6371Q, registered to barefoot aviation, LLC, experienced a loss of engine power while departing runway 5, and… ## Other investigations on N6371Q (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 NYC72FHM52](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72FHM52), May 27, 1972: Mooney M20F (N6371Q), Spring Valley, NY, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93279. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Statements (item 2, .PDF, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statements-Master.PDF - Memo (item 3, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446241&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446242&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.