# NTSB MIA06LA058: Mooney M20J, N511G, Fort Pierce, FL, March 1, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 1, 2006, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.490278, -80.368331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4903&lon=-80.3683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63293 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63293/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=63293 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06LA058 ## Probable cause Improper magneto installation by maintenance personnel, which resulted in the magneto detaching from the engine and subsequent loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - ignition system,magneto - loose - ignition system,magneto - separation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The pilot stated that about 8 to 10 minutes after takeoff, while still climbing, at an altitude of about 5,000 feet, the airplane lost engine power. The pilot further stated that the gauges showed about 1,000 rpm, and the manifold pressure remained at 25 inches. He turned around and returned to the airport and made attempts to restart the engine, all of which were unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing to a clearing short of the airport property, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. A postcrash examination of the airplane revealed that the dual magneto had detached from its mounted position, and was hanging by the ignition harness behind the engine. The magneto had not incurred any damage, and the magneto drive gear was laying in the accessory housing along with one hold-down plate. The retaining nuts, washers and lock washers were not recovered. When tested, the magneto operated on all eight distributor outputs. The impulse coupler was not damaged, and the distributor wiring was intact. There was engine continuity, proper valve action, and compression on all cylinders. Engine oil was present, and there was evidence of some oil having leaked at the back of the engine. No anomalies were noted with either the induction or fuel systems. The airplane had last received an annual inspection on August 2005 when an overhauled engine had been installed. It had accumulated 10 hours since the annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On March 1, 2006, about 1240 eastern standard time, a Mooney M-20J, N511G, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, incurred a loss of engine power while climbing to cruise altitude, and the pilot made a forced landing in Fort Pierce Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Fort Pierce, Florida, the same day, about 1230. According to the pilot, about 8 to 10 minutes after takeoff, while still climbing, at an altitude of about 5,000 feet, the airplane lost engine power. The pilot further stated that the gauges showed about 1,000 rpm, and the manifold pressure remained at 25 inches. He said he operated the throttle, and observed instruments while attempting to regain power, but he could not regain power or determine the reason for the power loss. He said he turned the airplane back towards Fort Pierce, Florida, and as it glided towards the airport, he communicated with the air traffic control tower controller, and declared an emergency. As the airplane glided toward the airport the pilot said he became less certain that he would reach it, so he selected a clearing in which to execute a forced landing. Upon reaching 900 feet, he abandoned the approach to the airport and made an approach to a clearing. While on short final to land in the clearing, the right wing of the airplane impacted the top of a pine tree, which changed the path. The airplane pan caked into the ground and bounced into an area of numerous 4-foot high sand piles, coming to rest upright on top of one of the piles. A postcrash examination of the airplane and engine was performed by a FAA licensed mechanic, under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examination revealed that the magneto had detached from its mounted position, and was hanging by the ignition harness behind the engine. The magneto had not been damage, and the magneto drive gear was laying in the accessory housing along with one "hold-down" plate. The retaining nuts, washers and lock washers were not recovered. When tested, the magneto operated on all eight distributor outputs, and the impulse coupler and the distributor wiring were intact. and undamaged. There was engine continuity as well as valve action and compression on all cylinders. Engine oil was present, and there was evidence that some oil had leaked at the back of the engine. No anomalies were noted to exist with the induction or fuel systems. The airplane and engine had last received an annual inspection in August 2005, when an overhauled engine had been installed. The airplane and engine had accumulated 10 hours since the annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N511G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N511G-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N 24-1207, built 1981 (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: 24-1207 - Airframe hours: 3525 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alton F. Robertson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 10 hours before - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Airport: FPR, St. Lucie County International, runway 32, 4,756 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 1,212 total, 465 in this make and model, 1,170 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 1 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 20060301003669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060301003669A), Mar 1, 2006: Mooney M20J, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft reported 11 miles south inbound to ft. Pierce airport (fpr) with low power. Aircraft made forced landing 1/2 mile south of airport in sand pit.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2006, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=63293. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 431 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40259618&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement: mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40259617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%3A%20mechanic-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Excerpts from Maintenance Documents (item 3, .PDF, 548 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40259619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Excerpts%20from%20Maintenance%20Documents%20-Redacted.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.