# NTSB ERA17LA284: Mooney M20C, N6833N, Palm Coast, FL, August 21, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2017, 20:55 local (Aug 21, 2017, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Palm Coast, FL - Coordinates: 29.477222, -81.136947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4772&lon=-81.1369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95859 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA284 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95859/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95859 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA284 ## Probable cause A crack in the No. 4 cylinder head, which resulted in engine roughness, a fuel leak, a loss of engine power, and the subsequent in-flight fire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During takeoff and the initial climb for the personal flight, the commercial pilot noticed that the engine was losing power. When the airplane reached about 400 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. During touchdown for the subsequent forced landing to a road, the pilot noticed flames coming into the cockpit near the passenger's feet; both occupants egressed as quickly as possible after landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the cabin was consumed by fire; the fire appeared to have originated in the vicinity of the engine side of the firewall, forward of the copilot-side rudder pedals. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder head was cracked from the exhaust valve to one of the spark plug holes. The fuel pressure gauge line was burnt about 3 inches from the carburetor. A witness had reported that the airplane's engine was running roughly and "shaking" before the accident. Thus, it is likely that increased engine vibration from the cracked No. 4 cylinder resulted in a loosened fuel line fitting and fuel leak, which subsequently led to the loss of engine power and in-flight fire. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2017, about 2055 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N6833N, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power after takeoff from Flagler Executive Airport (FIN), Palm Coast, Florida. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned personal flight to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilot, he and a passenger were flying back to FXE from a flight earlier in the day to St Marys Airport (4J6), St Marys, Georgia. They stopped at FIN for fuel. During the subsequent takeoff, the pilot noticed that the engine did not seem to be producing full power. During the initial climb, he felt the engine continue to lose power and about 400 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. He told the local air traffic controller that the engine lost all power and he was going to land on a road. During touch-down, he noticed flames coming into the cockpit around the passenger's feet. He stopped the airplane and both occupants egressed as quickly as possible. The pilot further stated he did not turn off the master switch or boost pump, nor could he get back in the airplane to turn it off as the flames were too intense at that time. According to a witness, he was working in his hangar, approximately 75 yards away from the self-service fuel farm, when he heard an airplane start up. He stated the engine was running very rough and walked outside to see what the problems was. He saw the accident airplane sitting at the fuel farm and noticed the engine exhaust was "shaking." Then he stated the airplane taxied away towards the runway. After a few minutes, the airport authority came down and locked up the fuel farm and stated that the Mooney just crashed on a road. Examination of the of the airplane following the accident revealed that the cabin was consumed by fire. The engine compartment was black from soot, but intact. The wings, tail section, and landing gear were intact. Thumb compression was attained on all cylinders except the No. 4 cylinder. Borescope examination of the cylinder and revealed that the head was cracked from the exhaust valve to one of the spark plug holes. The fuel pressure gauge line was burnt approximately 3 inches from the carburetor. The bottom of the firewall, in front of the co-pilot's seat, and just below the rudder pedals, was burnt through and the metal was drooping from heat exposure. The four seat, low-wing airplane, was manufactured in 1968. It was powered by a Lycoming O-360 series, 180-horsepower engine, driving a Hartzell two-blade, constant-speed propeller. According to FAA and aircraft maintenance records, the airplane was originally issued an airworthiness certificate on May 30, 1968, and registered to the owner on November 15,2012. According to maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was conducted on November 1, 2016, with a recorded time in service of 7,644.5 hours. The engine was last overhauled on December 4, 2001 and had accumulated 680.4 hours of service at the time of inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6833N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6833N-2019-05-04), registration cancelled 2019-05-04, S/N 680123, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 680123 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 7644.5 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2016, 50 hours before - Departed: FIN, PALM COAST, FL - Destination: FXE, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 10, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 400 total, 20 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KDAB, 18 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 20170820011379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170820011379A), Aug 20, 2017: Mooney M20C, Palm Coast, FL, Substantial damage. On August 20, 2017, about 2055 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N6833N, was substantially damaged (fire damage to the complete cockpit)during a forced… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95859. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477351&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 892 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 4, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Investigative Photos (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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.