# NTSB CHI94LA315: Mooney M20F, N9310V, Hanston, KS, September 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1994, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Hanston, KS - Coordinates: 38.119571, -99.709655 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1196&lon=-99.7097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA315 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9669/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA315 ## Probable cause The failure of the number two connecting rod. Factors in the accident were the fouled windshield utility wires, the road sign, and the telephone pole. ## 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, cruise - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - window,flight compartment window/windshield - fouled - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - roadway/highway - object - sign (contributing factor) - object - utility pole (contributing factor) ## Analysis APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE WINDSHIELD BECAME COVERED WITH OIL, THE AIRPLANE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, AND THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE PILOT PREPARED FOR A FORCED LANDING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A ROAD, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH UTILITY WIRES. IT THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND AND STRUCK A ROAD SIGN AND A TELEPHONE POLE BEFORE COMING TO REST. A POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. THE CONNECTING ROD WAS SENT TO THE NTSB MATERIALS LABORATORY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THE LABORATORY REPORTED THE FRACTURES OF THE COMPONENTS SUBMITTED APPEARED TO HAVE FEATURES WHICH ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF OVERSTRESS SEPARATIONS OR CYCLIC STRESS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE FROM NORMAL OPERATIONS. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1994, at 1100 central daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N9310V, was destroyed following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Hanston, Kansas. The pilot reported minor injuries, the one passenger aboard reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated from Denver, Colorado, at 1020 mountain standard time on a VFR flight plan with an intended destination of Wichita, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. In a written statement, the pilot reported he heard a loud bang approximately two hours into the flight. The windshield became covered with oil, the airplane shook violently, and the cockpit filled with smoke. The pilot stated he prepared to make a forced landing. Due to the obstructed view of the windshield, the passenger opened his door to view forward in order to help guide the pilot towards the selected landing area. While attempting to land on a road, the airplane collided with utility wires. The airplane impacted the ground and struck a road sign and a telephone pole before coming to rest. A postaccident examination by an FAA Inspector revealed the number two cylinder connecting rod had failed. Further examination of the magnetos, oil pump, and induction system indicated normal operation. Sections of the failed connecting rod, piston, and pin were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, D.C., for further examination. A large portion of the rod and bolt were not able to be found at the accident scene for examination. The laboratory reported the fractures of the components submitted appeared to have features which are representative of overstress separations or cyclic stress above the yield of the material. None of the components which were submitted contained fractures indicating the primary initiating break of the assembly. There was no evidence of fatigue cracking from normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9310V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9310V-1995-02-06), registration cancelled 1995-02-06, S/N 690088 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 690088 - Airframe hours: 3126 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1D 180 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bfd Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1993, 82 hours before - Departed: APA, DENVER, CO - Destination: ICT, WICHITA, KS - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; airline transport, student, foreign, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 844 total, 456 in this make and model, 770 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 19940908026049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940908026049A), Sep 8, 1994: Mooney M20C, Hanston, KS, Destroyed. Loud bang oil on windshield. Struck wires trying for a road. Connecting rod failed. ## Other investigations on N9310V (2) 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 NYC72FKM35](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72FKM35), May 6, 1972: Mooney M20F (N9310V), Shelby, NC, substantial damage - [NTSB IAD71DKM06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD71DKM06), Jul 25, 1970: Mooney M20G (N9310V), Hickory, NC, 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. --- 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.