# NTSB ERA20LA082: Mooney M20J, N52840, Farmingdale, NY, December 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 28, 2019, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Farmingdale, NY - Coordinates: 40.713054, -73.411941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7131&lon=-73.4119&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100840 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100840/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100840 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA082 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane prior to the first flight of the day but did not visually check the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks. He reported the engine data monitor indicated there was 20 gallons of fuel on board the airplane prior to takeoff. He flew to another airport and on the return flight, while on final approach, the air traffic controller requested the pilot make S-turns because the airport was busy. While on short final, the engine lost total power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and was unsuccessful in his attempts to restart the engine before impacting terrain about 1/2 mile from the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right fuel tank remained intact; however, no fuel was present in the fuel tank. The left fuel tank was breached during the accident sequence, and no fuel was present in the tank. Multiple fuel lines were disconnected from the engine and residual fuel was present in the fuel manifold supply and the return lines from the fuel control to the fuel pump. All other lines were absent of fuel, including the fuel supply line from the airframe to the fuel pump. Furthermore, the pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It’s likely that the pilot’s improper preflight inspection and overreliance of the engine fuel monitor resulted in fuel exhaustion during final approach to landing. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 2019, about 1615 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N52840, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Farmingdale, New York. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane about 1300, with no anomalies noted, and departed Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York, for a flight to Francis S Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton Beach, New York. He landed at FOK and remained on the ground until about 1545, when he departed for the return flight to FRG. He stated that the digital engine monitor indicated 20 gallons of fuel on board prior to takeoff from FRG. He stated that during approach to FRG the airport traffic pattern was congested and about a 3-mile final approach to the runway, the controller requested he make S-turns for separation from the airplane in front of him. At an altitude of about 600 ft, the engine lost total power. The pilot responded by first switching the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank, then tried to restart the engine before impacting terrain about ½-mile from runway 1 at FRG. The airplane impacted trees and a pole before coming to rest upright in a wooded area. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage, was substantially damaged, and bent up. The right wing remained attached to the fuselage. The right fuel tank was not breached, and when visually inspected, and no fuel was noted in the tank. The left tank was breached, and no fuel was present. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident. During the examination the inspector disconnected multiple fuel lines to check for the presence of fuel. A small amount of residual fuel was present in the fuel manifold supply and the return lines from the fuel control to the fuel pump. All other lines were absent of fuel, including the fuel supply line from the airframe to the fuel pump. The FAA inspector interviewed the pilot after the accident, the interview revealed the pilot did not visually check the fuel quantity in either tank during his preflight inspection. Additionally, the pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook, the preflight inspection checklist included steps to “check quantity” of the left and right fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52840](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52840), registered now, S/N 24-1683, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1683 - Year built: 1988 - Airframe hours: 1974 - Engines: Continental IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2019 - Departed: FOK, Westhampton Beach, NY - Destination: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Airport: FRG, Republic, runway 01, 5,516 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Data recorder, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,090 total, 697 in this make and model, 2,073 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FRG, 1 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 20191228018959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191228018959A), Dec 28, 2019: Mooney M20J, Farmingdale, NY, Substantial damage. The airman departed kfok enroute to kfrg on a VFR flight. Upon entering the traffic patter for runway 1 at kfrg he was told to extend downwind for other… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100840. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12337359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_N52840_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12650970&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA examinations / interviews (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12651350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12650980&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA20LA082-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from POH (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12901199&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20POH-Rel.pdf - POH - missile conversion charts (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12651195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Missile%20Conversion%20POH-Rel.pdf - Fuel receipt (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12651373&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Fuel%20Receipt-Rel.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.