- Date
- July 8, 1993, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Magee, MS
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3896HMooney M20J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930708022809A
- Case key
- 37368
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
Installation of an incorrect oil filter adapter plate stud which secures the plate to the accessory case.
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
The day before the accident flight, a mechanic changed the engine oil but did not run the engine after to check for oil leaks. The pilot stated that the oil quantity was full before departure. During cruise flight, the engine seized. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field gear-up. The engine was removed and sent to the manufacturer for examination. Examination of the engine revealed that a section of gasket between the accessory case and the oil filter adapter plate was missing. Also, the oil filter adapter plate stud which secures the plate to the accessory case was incorrect. As a result, the adapter plate was loose. The engine quit due to oil starvation which was caused by the oil exiting the engine past the gasket.
Factual narrative
On July 8, 1993, about 1445 central daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N3896H, registered to the pilot, William R. Capps, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Magee, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated about 1415 from the Paul Pittman Memorial Airport, Tylertown, Mississippi.
The day before the accident flight, the engine oil was changed but the mechanic did not run the engine after to check for oil leaks. The pilot stated that before departure, the oil quantity was full. The flight departed and during cruise flight, the engine seized. The pilot landed the airplane landing gear up in a field.
The engine was removed from the airplane and sent to the manufacturer for further examination. Examination of the engine revealed that a section of gasket between the accessory case and the oil filter adapter plate was missing. Also, the threaded bolt which secures the oil filter adapter plate to the accessory section was an incorrect part. As a result, the adapter plate could not be tightened against the accessory case. According to the teardown report, the engine failure was due to the loss of lubrication which was due to an improperly assembled oil filter adapter plate and gasket.
The wreckage was released to Joel Clark of Clark Aviation, Inc., on November 15, 1993.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3896H
- Reported as
- Mooney M20J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-0980
- Airframe hours
- 2,184
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Capps, William R.
- Registered owner
- Capps, William R.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 4, 1993 · 49 hours before
- Departed
- T36 · Tylertown, MS
- Destination
- 50J · Moncks Corner, SC
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,117 total · 123 in this make and model · 1,009 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JAN, 30 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.