# NTSB GAA17CA260: Mooney M20, N7118U, Olathe, KS, May 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 2, 2017, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Olathe, KS - Coordinates: 38.846389, -94.737503 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8464&lon=-94.7375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95113 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95113/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95113 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA260 ## Probable cause The separated fuel tank selector knob roll pin, which prevented the fuel selector from moving to the fuel tank position for the tank with usable fuel and resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the initial climb, about 1,000 ft above the ground, he "saw the engine power winding down." He added that he "turned on" the boost pump, checked the magnetos and fuel mixture, and then switched the fuel selector to the other fuel tank. The engine experienced a total loss of power and then impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that he traveled to the accident, and while on-site, he observed that the fuel selector knob set screw was loose and that the knob turned freely on the shaft. The set screw doesn’t keep the knob keyed; it just stops it from coming off. A roll pin keeps the shaft in position and was observed in the selector well. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7118U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7118U-2020-04-08), registration cancelled 2020-04-08, S/N 360, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20 (E) - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 360 - Year built: 1964 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Smooth Blue Inc. - Registered owner: Smooth Blue Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OJC, Olathe, KS - Destination: MHK, MANHATTAN, KS - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: OJC, Johnson County Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, private, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2017 ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KOJC ## 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 20170502008569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170502008569A), May 2, 2017: Mooney M20E, Olathe, KS, Substantial damage. The pilot departed kixd and during climb out through 1000 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot declared an emergency and landed the aircraft in a farm field. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95113. 12.3 MB in all. - Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 9.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5832642&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of email (FAA) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5832879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20EMAIL%20(FAA)-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 861 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5832369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Safety alert 075 (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 738 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6947155&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SA_075-Rel.pdf - Safety alert 076 (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6947579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SA_076-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� edits to final report (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15328495&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GAA17CA260%20Original%20Report-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� revision approval memo (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15328793&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GAA17CA260%20Revision%20Approval%20Memo-Rel.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.