# NTSB DEN03LA024: Mooney M20K, N252DR, Eagle, CO, December 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 10, 2002, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Eagle, CO - Coordinates: 39.642501, -106.917778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6425&lon=-106.9178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56188/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA024 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to remove protective coverings from the engine air scoops during the preflight inspection, resulting in air starvation and a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Analysis After the airplane lifted off the runway and climbed 50 feet (about 10 seconds into the flight), the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to land on the 2,000 feet of runway remaining. The pilot said there was insufficient runway to bring the airplane to a safe stop, so he elected to abort the landing. The airplane did not become airborne, but traveled approximately 300 feet before exiting the runway onto soft, muddy ground. The nose wheel collapsed and was torn off, wrinkling the fuselage behind the firewall. There was a 4-inch hole in the fuselage, and the horizontal stabilizer was also damaged. Airport emergency personnel who responded reported finding the protective coverings for the engine air scoops still in place. ## Factual narrative On December 10, 2002, about 1115 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20K, N252DR, registered to and operated by Flying M-U-2, Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at the Eagle County Airport, Eagle, Colorado. The private and student pilot were not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had just originated and was en route to Waco, Texas. According to the pilot's accident report, about 10 seconds after the airplane lifted off the runway, he realized "the cowl plugs had been left in the cowl holes. Fearing engine/propeller entanglement with [the] cord connecting the two front plugs, [he] attempted to reland on [the] same runway." The airplane touched down but there was insufficient runway remaining to come to a safe stop. The pilot elected to abort the landing, resulting in the airplane "not regaining the air." The airplane went off the end of the runway and traveled about 300 feet across rough terrain before the nose landing gear collapsed. After NTSB was notified of the accident, the pilot was contacted via telephone and asked what had happened. He said that after the airplane lifted off the runway and had climbed 50 feet, the engine lost power. He attempted to land on the 2,000 feet of runway remaining. The airplane touched down, traveled approximately 300 feet before going off the end onto soft, muddy ground. Airport emergency personnel who responded reported to NTSB that they found the protective coverings for the engine air scoops still in place. Postaccident examination further revealed wrinkling of the fuselage behind the firewall, and a 4-inch hole in the fuselage. The horizontal stabilizer was also damaged. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft protective covering - not removed, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - muddy - terrain condition - snow covered ## Aircraft - Registration: [N252DR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N252DR), registered now, S/N 25-1038 (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: 25-1038 - Airframe hours: 3534 - Engines: Continental TSI0-520-NB 305 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flying M-U-2, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2002, 54 hours before - Departed: EGE, Eagle, CO - Destination: ACT, Waco, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EGE, Eagle County Regional, runway 25, 8,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 23, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,419 total, 900 in this make and model, 1,419 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: EGE ## 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 20021210033999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021210033999A), Dec 10, 2002: Mooney M20K, Eagle, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Investigation revealed cowl plugs were left installed during takeoff and subsequent rejected takeoff. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.