# NTSB ERA20LA123: Mooney M20C, N9281M, McIntyre, GA, March 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 7, 2020, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: McIntyre, GA - Coordinates: 32.931388, -83.170555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9314&lon=-83.1706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101062 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101062/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101062 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA123 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: 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) - [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) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed the airport with full fuel tanks. About 1 hour and 15 minutes into the flight, and about 5 minutes after switching fuel tanks, the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot attempted to recover engine power, including the application of carburetor heat; however, these attempts were unsuccessful. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field where the airplane collided with a fence and was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or anomaly. The airplane was being operated in weather conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. Since the power loss was sudden, and the pilot immediately applied carburetor heat, it is unlikely that carburetor icing was a factor. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2020, about 1015 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20C, N9281M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McIntyre, Georgia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was conducting a pleasure flight under visual flight rules. All ground operations and engine run-up checks were normal. Both fuel tanks were full prior to departure. During cruise flight, about 5 minutes after switching from the right to the left fuel tank, the engine suddenly lost all power. An attempt to restart the engine, which included the selection of carburetor heat, was unsuccessful. He performed a forced landing into a field. After touchdown, the right wing collided with a fence post and the airplane came to a stop. The fuselage and both wings were structurally damaged. There was no fire. The wreckage was recovered to a storage facility and examined. Both wing tanks contained an adequate supply of fuel. The fuel selector handle was in the left tank position. Two in-line fuel filters were free of contaminants or obstructions. An examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of a malfunction or anomaly that would have prevented normal operation. The aircraft was being operated in weather conditions that were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9281M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9281M), registered now, S/N 3463, built 1966 (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: 3463 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 5243 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2020, 9 hours before - Departed: PDK, Chamblee, GA - Destination: JES, Jesup, GA - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 6, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 275 total, 9 in this make and model, 121 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.46 inHg - Observed at: KMLJ, 14 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 20200307005939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200307005939A), Mar 7, 2020: Mooney M20C, Mcintyre, GA, Substantial damage. As per the pilot, plane was parked at north ramp at kpdk. Did a pre-flight checklist. Fullest tank was right tank Started the engine and got kpdk ground… ## Other investigations on N9281M (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 CHI69F0575](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69F0575), Apr 6, 1969: Mooney M20C (N9281M), Joliet, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101062. 8.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9928917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 293 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9929104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Bean-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9929674&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - NTSB examination summary (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9928926&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Examination%20Summary_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA SAIB - carburetor icing prevention (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 747 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9929113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20CE%2009%2035-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.