# NTSB ERA09LA441: Mooney M20F, N3549N, Suffolk, VA, August 3, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2009, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Suffolk, VA - Coordinates: 36.676109, -76.601112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6761&lon=-76.6011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74448 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA441 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74448/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74448 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA441 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s failure to accurately calculate the fuel required for the flight. Contributing to the accident was a malfunction of the fuel quantity indicators. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel quantity indicator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed with ¼ tank of fuel in the right and left fuel tanks. He said that he was flying around for approximately an hour before he began "buzzing" his house. The engine then lost power and he made an emergency forced landing on a road when, during rollout, the airplane collided with a tree. Examination of the fuel system revealed that both fuel tanks were empty and were not breached. Further examination revealed that the airplane was equipped with electronic fuel quantity indicators. Examination of the electronic fuel indicators revealed that both indicators were not functioning correctly. Review of the Dual Fuel Level (FL-2) operating and installation instructions stated: "do not solely rely on the FL-2 to determine the fuel levels in the fuel tanks." Examination of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2009, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20F, N3549N, made a forced landing and collided with trees near Suffolk, Virginia. The private pilot was seriously injured, and the two passengers were uninjured. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Suffolk Executive Airport, Suffolk, Virginia, at 1630. The pilot stated that he departed with ¼ tank of fuel in the right and left main fuel tanks. He said that he was flying around for approximately an hour before he began "buzzing" his house. He made a series of sharp banks, and the engine lost power. He made an emergency forced landing on a road, and during roll out the airplane collided with a tree. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airframe and flight control system components showed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Examination of the fuel system revealed that both main fuel tanks were empty of fuel, and that the tanks were not breached. Further examination of the fuel system revealed that the main fuel tank quantity indicators were placarded "inop." The airplane was equipped with electronic fuel quantity indicators: Electronics International FL 2RA-12. Examination of the electronic fuel indicators revealed when the battery master switch was turned ON, the indicator showed different readings in each toggled position (left, total, right), when switching back to that position. When toggled to the “left”: the indicator read 23.0 gallons of fuel with the left LED illuminated above the ½ mark and the right LED illuminated red for 0. Toggle to “right” and back to “left” had an indication of 16.5 gallons of fuel with left LED on ½ mark and right LED now on yellow mark. Similar readings were found when switching to “total” or “right”, with the right side displaying 4.5 gallons of fuel. Review of the Dual Fuel Level (FL-2) operating and installation instructions stated: (do not solely rely on the FL-2 to determine the fuel levels in the fuel tanks). The instructions also required that a placard reading (do not solely rely on the fuel levels instrument to determine the fuel levels in the aircraft) be mounted on the aircraft instrument panel near the FL-2. Examination of the engine by the FAA inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3549N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3549N-2012-08-23), registration cancelled 2012-08-23, S/N 680093, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 680093 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rg Rentals Ltd - Registered owner: Rg Rentals Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SFQ, Suffolk, VA - Destination: SFQ, Suffolk, VA - Airport: SFQ, Suffolk ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: SFQ, 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 20090803857449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090803857449A), Aug 3, 2009: Mooney M20F, Suffolk, VA, Substantial damage. After approximately 10 minutes of flight, the engine experienced a power loss due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot attempted a forced landing on a road, when he… ## Other investigations on N3549N (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 CHI70D0009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70D0009), Apr 20, 1969: Mooney M20F (N3549N), Pulaski, WI, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74448. 2.7 MB in all. - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Fuel gauge instructions (item 1, .PDF, 644 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Fuel%20gauge%20instructions-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Fuel system infomation (item 2, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Fuel%20system%20infomation-Master.PDF - Photo 1-FAA digital-Remaining fuel left wing (item 3, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318695&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-FAA%20digital-Remaining%20fuel%20left%20wing-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 4, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318696&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-N3549N Inspector Statement (item 5, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-N3549N%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.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.