# NTSB ERA11CA020: Mooney M20E, N5743Q, New Smyrna Beach, FL, October 13, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 13, 2010, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: New Smyrna Beach, FL - Coordinates: 28.973888, -80.921669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9739&lon=-80.9217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77580/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77580 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA020 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in the loss of engine power due to water contaminated fuel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane was not operated for an extended period of time due to a propeller strike. The owner of the airplane received a ferry permit to have the airplane flown to another airport for repairs. Before the flight, the pilot completed a preflight inspection and engine run-up, during which time he did notice any anomalies. During the initial climb, about 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost power and the pilot attempted to return to the airport. The airplane impacted the ground on the east side of the runway resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel was contaminated with water. The right and left tanks were drained and about 1 pint of water was captured from each fuel tank. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he recalled that during the preflight inspection, he did sump the fuel tanks, but did not notice any water in them. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane sat for an extended period of time due to a propeller strike. The owner of the airplane received a ferry permit to have the airplane flown to another airport for repairs. Before the flight, the pilot completed a preflight inspection and engine run-up, and did not notice any anomalies. During the initial climb, about 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost power and the pilot attempted to return to the airport. The airplane impacted the ground on the east side of the runway resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel was contaminated with water. The right and left tanks were drained and about 1 pint of water was captured from each fuel tank. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he recalled that during the preflight inspection, he did sump the fuel tanks, but did not notice any water in them. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5743Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5743Q-2011-11-07), registration cancelled 2011-11-07, S/N 730, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 730 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Departed: X50, New Smyrna Beach, FL - Destination: XFL, Palm Coast, FL - Airport: X50, Massey Ranch Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 25 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 13 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 20101013052089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101013052089A), Oct 13, 2010: Mooney M20E, New Smyrna, FL, Substantial damage. During takeoff, while operating on special flight permit, aircraft engine quit at approxamately 300 feet AGL. Aircraft crashed approxamately 125 yards east of… ## Other investigations on N5743Q (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 MKC74DCQ08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74DCQ08), Aug 23, 1973: Mooney M20E (N5743Q), Hugoton, KS, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77580. 2.8 MB in all. - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340130&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 FAA photo- Front main wreckage (item 4, .PDF, 862 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340431&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20FAA%20photo-%20Front%20main%20wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 2 FAA photo- Aft view buckled fuselage (item 5, .PDF, 770 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340432&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20FAA%20photo-%20Aft%20view%20buckled%20fuselage-Master.PDF - Photo 3 FAA photo- Sumped water from tank (item 6, .PDF, 682 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340433&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20FAA%20photo-%20Sumped%20water%20from%20tank-Master.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.