- Date
- March 16, 2002, 09:16 local (15:16 UTC)
- Place
- Norman, OK
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8390EMooney M20A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Lycoming, FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020316004859A
- Case key
- 54356
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Maintenance personnel's improper clamp installation on the mixture control cable, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During takeoff initial climb, approximately 800-900 feet agl, the engine lost power. With no options to land straight ahead, the pilot elected to make a right 180-degree turn back to the runway. The airplane's right wing struck the ground followed by the fuselage. The airplane slid upright into two parked airplanes that were tied down on the ramp. Examination of the aircraft revealed an improper clamp installed on the mixture cable that would not allow the mixture cable to extend to the full rich position.
Factual narrative
On March 16, 2002, 0916 central standard time, a Mooney M20A single-engine airplane, N8390E, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb from the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport near Norman, Oklahoma. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight was destined for Nashua, New Hampshire, with Newton, Kansas as the first fuel stop. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The 346-hour pilot reported to the FAA inspector, that during initial climb out from runway 3, while climbing through approximately 800-900 feet agl, the engine lost power without warning. With no options to land straight ahead, the pilot elected to make a right 180-degree turn to attempt to return to the airport. The pilot stated that the landing gear was fully extended and the flaps were up. The airplane's right wing struck the ground followed by the fuselage. The airplane slid upright into two parked airplanes that were tied down on the ramp.
Examination of the airplane, by the FAA inspector, revealed that the airplanes right wing was separated from the fuselage.
An examination of the aircraft at Air Salvage of Dallas near Lancaster, Texas, conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge and a Textron Lycoming representative revealed that an improper clamp was found installed on the mixture control cable that would not allow the mixture cable to fully extend to the full rich position. Examination of the engine revealed the #1 fuel injector nozzle was loose, and the #2 fuel injector line was loose at the nozzle. All fuel injectors were found to be clean.
After multiple attempts, the NTSB was unable to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8390E
- Reported as
- Mooney M20A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1568
- Airframe hours
- 3,015.6
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1A, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jeffrey A. Evans
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 2002 · 6.28 hours before
- Departed
- OUN · Norman, OK
- Destination
- EWK · Newton, KS
- Airport
- OUN · University Of Oklahoma Westhei, runway 3, 4,747 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 346 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.17 inHg
- Observed at
- OUN
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8390E · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.