# NTSB FTW03LA092: Mooney M20J, N658FT, New Orleans, LA, February 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 2003, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: New Orleans, LA - Coordinates: 30.042499, -90.028335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0425&lon=-90.0283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56432 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56432/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56432 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA092 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power as a result of the separation of the magneto assembly due to inadequate maintenance by unknown personnel. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - ignition system,magneto - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc (cause) - maintenance - inadequate, unknown (cause) - ignition system,magneto - separation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - wall/barricade - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted a concrete levee following a loss of engine power after takeoff. According to the pilot, the flight departed and approximately 5 minutes later he heard a "loud bang," and the engine lost total power. He initiated a forced landing, during which the airplane contacted trees and a 10-foot high concrete levee. Examination of the wreckage revealed the single-drive magneto was separated from its accessory drive. In addition, the housing attachment bold threads did not indicate damage consistent with properly torqued and secured attaching hardware. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 2003, at 1745 central standard time, a Mooney M20J single-engine airplane, N658FT, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a loss of engine power after takeoff from the Lakefront Airport, near New Orleans, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Air Reldan, Inc., of New Orleans, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, and his three passengers, received 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 local flight departed from the Lakefront Airport at approximately 1740. According to the pilot, about 5 minutes after departure he heard a "loud bang," which was followed by a total loss of engine power. The 593-hour pilot turned back to the northeast to land in a near by field. During the forced landing, the airplane contacted trees and a 10-foot high concrete levee before coming to rest in the upright position. According to one of the passengers, five to seven minutes into the flight "he heard an explosion on the engine," followed by smoke from penetrating the cabin from the engine compartment. Examination of the wreckage by FAA inspectors, who responded to the accident site, revealed that both wings were bent, the engine was separated from the airframe, and three of the four engine mounts were separated from the airframe structure. The airplane was powered by a 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D four cylinder engine featuring a single-drive magneto. The single-drive magneto was found separated from its accessory drive. In addition, the engine accessory housing attachment bold threads were not striped and showed no signs of damage. According to the Service Instruction (S.I.) 1508, "In the Mooney M20J-201 there have been reports of the hardware attaching the dual magneto to the studs in the engine accessory housing becoming loose after maintenance in the field. It is possible that during maintenance, the attachment nuts are not being torqued to specifications or that hardware has not been installed properly." SI-1508 also recommends that the SI-1508 be complied with at the next oil change, but not to exceed 50 hours of operation. The attaching nuts are torqued to 17 ft.-lbs. (204 in.-lbs.). The date when the last magneto maintenance was performed could not be established due to the the aircraft maintenance records not being available for examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N658FT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N658FT-2006-03-03), registration cancelled 2006-03-03, S/N 24-3270, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3270 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Reldan Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NEW, New Orleans, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 27, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 593 total, 25 in this make and model, 487 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: NEW, 5 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 20030203004949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030203004949A), Feb 3, 2003: Mooney M20J, New Orleans, LA, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot of Mooney M-20-J declared an emergency with 3 passengers on board. This was a part 91 flight around the city of New Orleans when the engine quit.… ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56432. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Magneto Service Instruction (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Magneto%20Service%20Instruction-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement # 1 (item 3, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%20%23%201-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement # 2 (item 4, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%20%23%202-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 5, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Mandatory Service Bulletin (item 6, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mandatory%20Service%20Bulletin-Master.PDF - Photo 01: View of the magneto. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 566 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001%3A%20%20View%20of%20the%20magneto.%20%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 02: Overall view of the magneto mount. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 741 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002%3A%20Overall%20view%20of%20the%20magneto%20mount.%20%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 03: View of the magneto mount. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2003%3A%20View%20of%20the%20magneto%20mount.%20%20%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 04: View of one of the studs securing the magneto. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 592 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2004%3A%20View%20of%20one%20of%20the%20studs%20securing%20the%20magneto.%20%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 05: View of other stud securing the single drive magneto. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 11, .PDF, 514 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40195991&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2005%3A%20View%20of%20other%20stud%20securing%20the%20single%20drive%20magneto.%20%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-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.