# NTSB FTW96LA357: Mooney M20J, N4538H, Lubbock, TX, August 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 1996, 17:09 local (22:09 UTC) - Place: Lubbock, TX - Location: 33.6787° N, 101.9935° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LUBBOCK PRESTON SMITH INTL (LBB), within about 3 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6787&lon=-101.9935&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA357 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19954/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19954 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA357 ## Probable cause inadequate maintenance by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power when the magneto disengaged from the engine. A related factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a 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, climb - to cruise - ignition system,magneto - disengaged (cause) - maintenance,installation - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis During a climb to cruise, between 5,000 and 6,000 feet msl, on an IFR flight in VMC, the pilot 'declared an emergency due to his engine cutting out and he had a little manifold pressure/RPM.' The pilot tried to reach Reese AFB about 3 to 4 miles away; however, the airplane landed short of the airport in a cotton field. During the landing roll, the right main gear collapsed, and the right wing separated from the airframe at the forward attachment point. During a postaccident examination, an FAA inspector found that both of the magneto retention nuts that held the single drive magneto to the engine had loosened, and the magneto became disengaged from its drive gear. Maintenance records revealed that the magneto was overhauled and reinstalled during an engine overhaul on April 12, 1996. The airplane had flown 120 hours since the installation. According to the FAA inspector, the 'magneto was installed with the correct hardware.' ## Factual narrative On August 25, 1996, at 1709 central daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N4538H, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Lubbock, Texas. The private pilot was not injured and the sole passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The flight was on an IFR flight plan and the flight originated from Lubbock, Texas, at 1657. During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, on the enclosed ATC data, and the Pilot/Operator Report, the following information was revealed. The flight was en route to Childress, Texas; however, the pilot changed the destination to the Lubbock International Airport, Lubbock, Texas, due to rain and low ceilings at Childress. At Lubbock the pilot had the airplane refueled, filed an IFR flight plan to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and departed on runway 17R with a clearance to 10,000 feet MSL. At 1659, the pilot was cleared to contact departure control (frequency 119.2) and reported on the departure control frequency as the flight continued the climb to cruise. Between 5,000 feet MSL and 6,000 feet MSL, at approximately 1706, the pilot contacted the controller and "declared an emergency due to his engine cutting out and he had a little manifold pressure/RPM" The pilot was cleared for the landing at Lubbock; however, the pilot stated that he was going to try to land at Reese AFB. The controller told the pilot that Reese was to the right of the airplane about 3 to 4 miles and the pilot reported that he had Reese airport in sight. Subsequently, the pilot reported that he could not make the airport and would land the airplane at the present position. The airplane was landed in a cotton field and during the landing roll the right main gear collapsed and the right wing separated from the airframe at the forward attachment point. Following the recovery of the airplane from the accident site, the airplane was examined at Lubbock, Texas by the FAA inspector. During the inspection, it was found that both of the magneto retention nuts that hold the single drive magneto to the engine had loosened and the magneto was disengaged from its drive gear. A review of the maintenance records by the investigator-in-charge, and the FAA inspector, revealed that the magneto was overhauled and reinstalled during the engine overhaul on April 12, 1996. The airplane had flown 120 hours since the installation. According to the FAA inspector, the "magneto was installed with the correct hardware." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4538H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4538H-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 24-0795, built 1979 (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: 24-0795 - Airframe hours: 2597 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Elliott R. Worthington - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 1996, 120 hours before - Departed: LBB, TX - Destination: LRU, LAS CRUCES, NM - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LBB, Lubbock International, runway 17R, 11,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,186 total, 507 in this make and model, 4,051 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LBB, 10 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 19960825023919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960825023919A), Aug 25, 1996: Mooney M20J, Lubbock, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft engine lost power and pilot made emergency landing in a field. (-23) this private pilot departed lbb for lru after topping off his fuel tanks on an… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 1997, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19954. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 507 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40062319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Personnel Statements (item 4, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Personnel%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Logbook (item 6, .PDF, 413 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Magneto disengaged from aft engine accessory. Photo courtesy of FAA. (item 7, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40062325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20%20Magneto%20disengaged%20from%20aft%20engine%20accessory.%20%20Photo%20courtesy%20of%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.