# NTSB ERA21LA199: Mooney M20C, N6448U, Warwick, NY, April 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 29, 2021, 12:17 local (16:17 UTC) - Place: Warwick, NY · South Shore of Wickham Lake - Coordinates: 41.278003, -74.294983 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2780&lon=-74.2950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103004 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103004/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103004 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA199 ## Probable cause A loose stand-off clamp which resulted in a throttle assembly malfunction, and the inability of the engine to produce full power during the attempted takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/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) (defining event); 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) - [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: 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 On the day of the accident, the pilot decided to take his airplane on a flight around the traffic pattern at his home airport to practice a few takeoffs and landings. After pulling the airplane out of the hangar where he kept it, he performed a preflight inspection. He then performed an engine runup, then back taxied on the runway for takeoff. Once he was in position for takeoff, he advanced the throttle until it was full open, and at 65 mph and about 2/3rds of the way down the runway, he rotated. He immediately realized that the engine was not producing full power, and attempted to advance the throttle further, but he realized that the throttle seemed as though it was not advancing completely. He then nosed the airplane down to attempt to stay in ground effect and gain some airspeed. A lake was at the departure end of the runway, and he was already approaching the trees on the opposite bank. He then picked a spot between trees, turned the fuel off, and pulled the aircraft into a full stall prior to impact. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. Further examination also revealed that the throttle cable would resist efforts to fully open the throttle and would only move the throttle arm on the carburetor about 1/2 an inch, and when the throttle was fully open, the entire throttle cable would move through the firewall and bulge. After disconnecting the cable from the carburetor, the cable was found to be still under load, until a loose stand-off clamp that connected the throttle cable to the firewall was repositioned, which then allowed the throttle to function properly through its full range of motion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6448U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6448U-2023-07-09), registration cancelled 2023-07-09, S/N 2195, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - 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: 2195 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 5091.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 9, 2020 - Departed: N72, Warwick, NY - Airport: N72, Warwick Muni, runway 21L, 2,150 × 28 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 9, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 532.7 total, 8.5 in this make and model, 532.7 as pilot in command, 17.4 in the last 90 days, 4.4 in the last 30 days, 0.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KMGJ, 14 nm away - METAR: KMGJ 281554Z AUTO 17004KT 10SM CLR 21/11 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP097 T02110106 ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103004. 19.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12538896&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements and interview summaries (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12537196&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Interview%20Summaries_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident site and flight path (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 11.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12538886&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6448U%20flight%20path%20map%20view-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12538539&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.