# NTSB MIA03LA049: Mooney M20K, N231NT, Myrtle Beach, SC, January 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2003, 17:36 local (22:36 UTC) - Place: Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.811668, -78.723892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8117&lon=-78.7239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Columbia FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56414/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA049 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot reported a "loud pop" followed by a loss of engine power during takeoff climb and attempted to land on the remaining runway. The airplane came to a stop about 250 feet past the end of the runway and 200 feet left of the centerline. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed no discrepancies except for a low reading in the number 3 cylinder, during a cold compression check. The fuel, along with the fuel systems, was examined and no abnormalities were found. Someone from the fix base operator had assisted the occupants out of the aircraft and turned off all switches. He remembered the auxiliary fuel pump was on and the fuel selector was pointing to a position between the left fuel tank and the off position. The pilot could not remember if she had turned the fuel selector to the off position at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2003, about 1736 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20K, N231NT, operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight impacted with the terrain during a forced landing at the Grand Strand Airport, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Greenville, South Carolina. The flight had departed on runway 23 and the landing gear was retracted. The pilot reported a "loud pop" followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot lowered the landing gear in an attempt to land on the remaining runway. The aircraft came to a stop about 250 feet past the end of the runway and 200 feet left of the centerline. According to the FAA inspector, an examination of the aircraft's engine revealed, that the number 3 cylinder read 3 to 10 psi over 80 psi when a cold compression differential check was performed to the engine. According to the FAA inspector "this was not a cause for the engine failure." In addition, he stated that the fuel, along with the fuel systems, was examined and no abnormalities were found. According to the FAA inspector's statement the pilot stated that part of her preflight was to select the right tank when her husband is on board. The fuel selector was found in the "off" position at the time of the FAA accident investigation. Someone from the fix base operator stated to the FAA, that he assisted the occupants out of the aircraft and turned off all switches. He remembered the auxiliary fuel pump was "on" and the fuel selector was pointing to a position between the left fuel tank and the off position. When asked to put the statement in writing he would not corroborate. The FAA asked the pilot if she attempted to turn the fuel selector to the off position at the time of the accident? The pilot could not remember. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N231NT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N231NT-2008-08-13), registration cancelled 2008-08-13, S/N 25-0330, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0330 - Airframe hours: 1515 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 305 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Karole Kay Jensen - Registered owner: Wings of Eagles - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 28, 2003, 88.62 hours before - Departed: CRE, Myrtle Beach, SC - Destination: GMU, GREENVILLE, SC - Airport: CRE, Grand Strand, runway 23, 5,996 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 15, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 4,433 total, 4,091 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: KCRE ## 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 20030128037669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030128037669A), Jan 28, 2003: Mooney M20K, North Myrtle Be, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 28, 2003, at approximately 1730 eastern standard time Mooney M20K, N231NT, departed Grand Strand Airport (cre), on runway 23, at north Myrtle… 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.