# NTSB CHI02LA261: Mooney M20C, N9274V, Warroad, MN, August 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2002, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Warroad, MN - Coordinates: 49.351665, -95.071662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=49.3517&lon=-95.0717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55776/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55776 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA261 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to the failure of the muffler baffles which blocked the exhaust system. A factor to the accident was the treeline. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - exhaust system,baffle - failure (cause) - exhaust system - blocked(total) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis During initial climb after takeoff the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. The pilot reported the airplane "lifted off at between 75 and 78 mph and everything was normal. At 25 to 30 feet in the air I began to experience backfiring and loss of power. Then the power resumed momentarily and the engine caught again lifting us above the trees. Then the engine started backfiring severely with [a] loss of power. As we began settling into the trees I shut off the master switch and chose a tree to hit with one wing in order to break our forward motion and to slow the aircraft. The aircraft spun around doing a 180 degree turn settling into the trees." The pilot stated that he "saw a small amount of smoke coming from the [cowling]" after he exited the airplane. Inspection of the engine compartment revealed fire damage to the air filter assembly, air intake ducting, and rubberized engine compartment baffling. All muffler baffles were either burned or missing. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2002, at 1430 central daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N9274V, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with trees while on initial climb after a takeoff from Northwest Angle Airport, Warroad, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger reported no injuries. The flight was departing at the time of the accident and the intended destination is unconfirmed. According to the pilot's written statement, he completed "a preflight check and run up, checking both [magnetos], constant speed check, controls and fuel selector, and began my takeoff roll." The pilot reported the airplane "lifted off at between 75 and 78 mph and everything was normal. At 25 to 30 feet in the air I began to experience backfiring and loss of power. Then the power resumed momentarily and the engine caught again lifting us above the trees. Then the engine started backfiring severely with [a] loss of power. As we began settling into the trees I shut off the master switch and chose a tree to hit with one wing in order to break our forward motion and to slow the aircraft. The aircraft spun around doing a 180 degree turn settling into the trees." The pilot stated that he "saw a small amount of smoke coming from the [cowling]" after he exited the airplane. An airframe & powerplant mechanic inspected the accident airplane and provided a written report. Inspection of the engine compartment revealed fire damage to the air filter assembly, air intake ducting, and rubberized engine compartment baffling. All muffler baffles were either burned or missing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9274V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9274V-2003-09-04), registration cancelled 2003-09-04, S/N 690075, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 690075 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Anthony Benedict Walser - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2002 - Departed: 58MN, Warroad, MN - Destination: UNK - Airport: 58MN, Northwest Angle Airport, runway 26, 2,380 × 105 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 6, 2001; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RRT, 27 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 20020825024649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020825024649A), Aug 25, 2002: Mooney M20C, Warroad, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) While departing from a 2400 foot grass strip, which is located in a heavily wooded are at Angle inlet, MN., the engine began to miss and lose power. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55776. 364 KB in all. - Pilot-operator aircraft accident report NTSB form 61201 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15364390&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%2061201-Master-Rel.pdf - Mechanic's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15364955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mechanic%27s%20Statement-Master-Rel.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.