- Date
- September 15, 1985, 14:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place
- Rosamond, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5788UMooney M20K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850915045059A
- Case key
- 24835
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While enroute to van nuys arpt at about 9500 ft, the plt reported to edwards afb apch control that he was experiencing a rough running eng. The plt requested and received a radar vector to wm j. fox arpt, lancaster, CA. Shortly thereafter the eng sustained a total pwr loss. The plt executed an emergency near Rosamond arpt. The eng examination disclosed a 'drill bit' remnant lodged in he oil pump causing it to sieze. The eng sustained extreme high temp distress followed by separation of the con rod. A 100-hour inspection was performed on the acft within 80 hours preceding the accident. The mechanic reported that he could not remember if he had inspected the scavenge pump oil screen during the inspection. Metalurgical examination disclosed the drill bit had penetrated the oil screen and entered into the oil pump. The origin of the drill bit could not be determined. The eng had been disassembled 180 hours prior to the accident by teledyne Continental motors
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5788U
- Reported as
- Mooney M20K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-0852
- Airframe hours
- 180
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-LB, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Nicholas Mendoza
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 25, 1985 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- MMH · Mammoth, CA
- Destination
- VNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- LOO · Rosamond
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 430 total · 87 in this make and model · 379 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 25 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5788U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.