# NTSB CHI07LA287: Mooney M20K, N231BQ, Fort Wayne, IN, August 31, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2007, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Fort Wayne, IN - Coordinates: 40.9783333333333, -85.195 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9783&lon=-85.1950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-SBN-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66868 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66868/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA287 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of one of the number two cylinder connecting rod bolts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - fatigue (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Forced landing, landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The airplane had just leveled off at 6500 feet, after departure, when the engine vibrated and lost full power. During an attempted return to the departure airport, the pilot realized that he could not make any runway and chose to make a forced landing into a corn field. The airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing. Postaccident disassembly of the engine disclosed that the number two connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft; one of the connecting rod bolts had sheared. Inspection of the fracture surface of this connecting rod bolt disclosed there were signature marks of metal fatigue across the bolt shear face that had initiated at the surface of the bolt. The number two cylinder had been replaced about 8 hours prior to the accident; however, the connecting rod had not been removed from the crankshaft during the cylinder replacement. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2007, about 1645 central daylight time, a Mooney M20K, N231BQ, sustained substantial damage while making an emergency landing in a field near Fort Wayne, Indiana after experiencing a complete loss of engine power and severe vibrations. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 flight rules. Daylight visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. No injuries were sustained by the pilot or two passengers. The flight originated from DeKalb County Airport (KGWB) in Auburn, Indiana, and was destined for Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport (KUMP), in Indianapolis, Indiana. After the accident, the engine was taken to Magnum Engines Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana, where a complete disassembly of the engine was documented under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Principal Airworthiness Inspector from the South Bend, Indiana Flight Standards District Office. It was noted that a protruding hole was observed in the left and right crankcase halves above the number one and number two cylinder deck areas. An extensive amount of parts and metallic material were found in the oil sump. The oil filter exhibited light amounts of metallic particles after being cut open. The number two cylinder connecting rod cap was separated from the upper portion of it's respective connecting rod. The number two connecting rod bearing exhibited mechanical damage with no signatures of lubrication distress or thermal distress. The upper yoke portion of the connecting rod separated from the base of the "I" beam. The number two connecting rod cap was flattened. The number one connecting rod was separated and found in the oil sump. A bolt from the number two connecting rod was examined under an optical microscope at 20 power. The fracture surfaces exhibited signatures consistent with fatigue. The initiation point of the fatigue appeared to be at the surface of the bolt. The aircraft's last annual inspection was conducted on April 9, 2007, at a tach reading of 602.0 hours. On August 2, 2007, at a tachometer reading of 634.7 hours (at an estimated engine total time since major overhaul of 906.1 hours), three cyclinders, the #1, #2, and #5 cylinders, were replaced with airworthy components. The oil and filter were also changed at that time. The engine was run up and leak checked OK. No visible metal was found in the old oil filter. Reportedly, the connecting rods were not removed from the crankshaft during the cylinder replacements. The total airframe time at the time of the accident was 3,280 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N231BQ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231BQ-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N 25-0119, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0119 - Airframe hours: 3280 - Engines: Teledyne Continental TSIO-360 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hot Wings Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007 - Departed: KGWB, Auburn, IN - Destination: KUMP, Fishers, IN - Airport: KFWA, Fort Wayne International, runway 5, 11,981 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,134 total, 764 in this make and model, 1,134 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KFWA, 2 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 20070831019969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070831019969A), Aug 31, 2007: Mooney M20K, Fort Wayne, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft landed off airport adjacent to the Fort Wayne international airport due to engine failure caused by rod disconnecting from crankshaft and… 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.