# NTSB MIA95LA080: Mooney M20E, N7142U, Mclain, MS, February 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 1995, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Mclain, MS - Coordinates: 31.050968, -88.800941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0510&lon=-88.8009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37735 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37735/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA080 ## Probable cause THE IMPROPER REASSEMBLY OF THE SERVO FUEL INJECTOR DURING OVERHAUL BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, FORCED LANDING, AND SUBSEQUENT ON-GROUND COLLISION WITH A FIXED OBJECT DURING LANDING ROLL OUT. ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A HIGHWAY. ON LANDING ROLL OUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SIGN. ON SCENE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA, REVEALED THE SERVO FUEL INJECTOR HAD FAILED. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE SERVO FUEL INJECTOR BY THE FAA MANUFACTURING INSPECTION DISTRICT OFFICE, AND THE MANUFACTURER, REVEALED THE OUTER SELF LOCKING NUT ON THE FUEL DIAPHRAGM STEM WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FUEL REGULATOR, AND THE FUEL REGULATOR TRAVELED TO THE NO FUEL FLOW SETTING. THE SERVO FUEL INJECTOR WAS OVERHAULED ON JANUARY 31, 1995. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 1995, about 1545 central standard time, a Mooney M20E, N7142U, registered to Charles B. Young Jr., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight in the vicinity of Mclain, Mississippi. A forced landing was made on a highway, and the airplane collided with a sign. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, about 15 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 3,500 feet agl when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. A forced landing was made to a highway that had been blocked off to vehicle traffic. On landing rollout the left wing of the airplane collided with a sign, the airplane veered to the left, collided with a ditch, and the nose gear collapsed. Examination of the crash site was conducted by the FAA. The FAA Aviation Safety Inspector stated, Mr. Young was forced to make an engine out landing on the highway. "There is no suitable landing area, approved or unapproved, other than Highway-98 in this location. The landing area was unsuitable, but it was the only alternative Mr. Young had." Temporary repairs were made to the airplane by personnel employed by Gulf Coast Aircraft, Mobile, Alabama, under the supervision of the FAA. An engine start was attempted, but with negative results. Examination of the engine assembly and accessories revealed no fuel was passing through the servo fuel injector. The servo fuel injector was removed from the airplane, and forwarded to the NTSB Southeast Regional Office, Miami, Florida. It was forwarded on March 9, 1995, to FAA, Transport Airplane Aircraft Certification, Renton, Washington, for further analysis by personnel of Precision Airmotive Corporation. Examination of the servo fuel injector, revealed the outer self locking nut on the fuel diaphragm stem was not attached to the fuel regulator, and the fuel regulator traveled to the no fuel flow setting. The outer nut on the fuel diaphragm stem was replaced and a functional test was successfully performed. Examination of logbook records for N7142U, revealed the servo fuel injector was overhauled and inspected by T. W. Smith Engine Co., Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 31, 1995. The fuel servo was released to Mr. kelly Bare, Aviation Claims Administrators Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, on April 6, 1995. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - maintenance,overhaul - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7142U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7142U), registered now, S/N 381, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E - 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: 381 - Airframe hours: 3449 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Young, Charles B. Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 23, 1995, 2 hours before - Departed: HBG, HATTIESBURG, MS - Destination: BFM, MOBILE, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 245 total, 111 in this make and model, 245 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MOB, 41 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 19950223002329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950223002329A), Feb 23, 1995: Mooney M20E, Mcclain, MS, Substantial damage. Lost cruise power. Landed on a highway. Struck a sign. Fuel injector failed, recent overhaul not properly assembled 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.