# NTSB FTW88DRA01: Watkins/Monnett Moni, N19MW, Silsbee, TX, October 13, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: October 13, 1987, 17:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: Silsbee, TX
- Coordinates: 30.370718, -94.309387 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3707&lon=-94.3094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22470
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DRA01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22470/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRA01

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system - contamination (cause)
  - fuel system,screen - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER & THE PLT TRIED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. HOWEVER, AS HE WAS SHUTTING OFF THE FUEL, THE ACFT STALLED & BEGAN TO SPIN. HE INITIATED CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUT THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVE FILTER SCREEN WAS ABOUT 75% CLOGGED WITH A CARBON LIKE MATERIAL WHICH RESTRICTED THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENG. THE PLT/OWNER/BUILDER WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS FUEL SCREEN, WHICH WAS INSTALLED BEHIND THE FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVE, INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. HE HAD INSTALLED ANOTHER IN-LINE FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS CLEAN. THE HOME BUILT ACFT HAD 50 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME & HAD FLOWN ONLY 9 HRS SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19MW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19MW-1988-11-23), registration cancelled 1988-11-23, S/N 195 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WATKINS/MONNETT MONI
- Registry model: [Watkins Mark D MONNETT MONI](https://openairdocs.org/model/watkins-mark-d-monnett-moni) (registry code 056595U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 00195
- Airframe hours: 50
- Engines: KFM 107E 25 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mark D. Watkins
- Registered owner: Watkins, Mark D
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1987, 9 hours before
- Departed: 45R
- Destination: BPT, BEAUMONT, TX
- Airport: 45R, Hawthorne Field, runway 13, 3,800 × 75 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 139 total, 55 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BPT, 25 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 19871013059559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871013059559A), Oct 13, 1987: Amtr MONI, Silsbee, TX, Substantial damage. Power loss after takeoff. Pilot applied up elevator reaching for fuel valve. Stall spin into tree. Fuel contamination

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.

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