# NTSB FTW95LA153: Mooney M20J, N4478H, Tijeras, NM, April 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 1995, 19:30 local (Apr 3, 1995, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Tijeras, NM - Coordinates: 35.080318, -106.369461 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0803&lon=-106.3695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19380/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA153 ## Probable cause FUEL STARVATION DUE TO FOREIGN MATERIAL PARTIALLY BLOCKING THE FUEL SCREEN, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS. A 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 - normal - fuel system,screen - blocked(partial) (cause) - fuel system,screen - foreign material/substance (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - vehicle ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, THEN LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE POWER, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE COULD NOT REMEMBER IF HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A PARKED CAR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE LEFT FUEL TANK FINGER SCREEN WAS FOUND TO BE BLOCKED BY GREEN LEAVES. THE ENGINE OPERATED SUCCESSFULLY AT FULL POWER AFTER THE FUEL SCREEN WAS CLEANED AND REINSTALLED. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 1995, approximately 1930 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N4478H, was substantially damaged when it collided with an automobile during a forced landing near Tijeras, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and automobile occupant were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The airplane had been flying at 12,000 feet MSL (above mean sea level) in instrument meteorological conditions with occasional light rain. As the airplane emerged into visual meteorological conditions, the pilot noticed the cylinder head and exhaust gas temperature gauges had "dropped off the scale." He adjusted the mixture and the instrument readings began to return to normal. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to run rough and lost power. The pilot's efforts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. He declared an emergency with Albuquerque Approach Control, then made a forced landing in mountainous terrain on New Mexico Highway 337. During the landing roll, the left wing tip struck a parked car. After relating these events to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot said he did not remember if he had switched fuel tanks in his attempt to restore engine power. The fuel selector was found positioned on the left fuel tank. At the request of the pilot, the airplane was transported to Clearlake, California, for repairs. In the presence of an FAA airworthiness inspector, the engine was functionally tested on August 23, 1995. During the first test, the engine ran rough at high power settings (2,650 RPM and 26 to 28 inches of manifold pressure), and the fuel pressure fluctuated between 5 an 14 pounds per square inch (psi). During the second test, engine power again ran rough at a high power setting (2,600 RPM, 25 inches manifold pressure). Fuel pressure was 3 psi. When the fuel boost pump was turned on, fuel pressure rose to 5 psi. The right fuel tank was selected and the engine ran smoothly. When the fuel selector was switched back to the left tank, the engine ran rough. The left fuel tank finger screen was removed and found to be plugged with what was described as "leaf roller bug." After the finger screen was cleaned and reinstalled, the engine was tested again and operated smoothly at all power settings on both the left and right fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4478H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0745 - Airframe hours: 1223 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffrey Klain - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 1994, 83 hours before - Departed: LVS, LAS VEGAS, NM - Destination: FHU, FORT HUACHUCA, AZ - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 490 total, 75 in this make and model, 418 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F ## 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 19950402009259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950402009259A), Apr 2, 1995: Mooney M20J, Tijeras, NM, Substantial damage. Low engine temp. Lost power. Hit auto landing on road. Found fuel tank finger screen clogged with leaf roller bugs. 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.