# NTSB CHI88LA054: Mooney M20A, N6072X, La Porte, IN, January 27, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 27, 1988, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: La Porte, IN
- Coordinates: 41.599765, -86.710746 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5998&lon=-86.7107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14038
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88LA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14038/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88LA054

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE AND WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING RAN THROUGH A FENCE AND BETWEEN TWO TREES SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. POST ACC INVEST REVEALED A FAILED CYLINDER. FAA CONDUCTED AN ENG TEARDOWN AND INDICATED IN THEIR REPORT THAT THE TORQUE VALUES ON THE CYLINDERS WAS BELOW MANUFACTURERS VALUES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF CYLINDERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6072X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6072X-1991-01-30), registration cancelled 1991-01-30, S/N 1668 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20A
- Registry model: [Mooney M20A](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20a) (registry code 5870204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1668
- Airframe hours: 3306
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Davair, Inc.
- Registered owner: Davair,Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1987, 79 hours before
- Departed: AZO, KALAMAZOO, MI
- Destination: 3HW, CHICAGO, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,505 total, 65 in this make and model, 3,505 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GYY, 35 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 19880127001509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880127001509A), Jan 27, 1988: Mooney M20A, La Porte, IN, Substantial damage. Engine failure at cruise. Over shot on force landing. Struck a fence. Found #3 cylinder had failed. Improper torque

## Other investigations on N6072X (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 MKC79FCG51](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79FCG51), Jun 26, 1979: Mooney M20A (N6072X), Hillsdale, KS, substantial damage

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.

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