# NTSB MKC83LA092: Mooney M20K, N231KV, Trenton, NE, April 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1983, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Trenton, NE
- Coordinates: 40.170955, -101.010971 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1710&lon=-101.0110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33398
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC83LA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33398/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83LA092

## 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, climb - to cruise
  - engine assembly,other - fatigue (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 11500 TO 12000 FT MSL WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LURCH. THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A ROUGHNESS. THE PLT SAID HE SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AT THIS TIME, THE PLT ADVISED DENVER ARTCC OF HIS EMERGENCY AND ASKED FOR LOCATIONS OF AIRPORTS IN THE VICINITY. THE CONTROLLER RESPONDED THAT THE TRENTON, NE ARPT WAS ABOUT 15 MILES BEHIND HIM. THE ACFT WAS TURNED TO A HEADING OF 80 DEGREES WHICH LATER WAS CHANGED TO 55 DEGREES. 5 MILES WEST OF TRENTON THE PLT RESPORTED THAT HE HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT. THE ACFT WAS LANDED GEAR DOWN ABOUT 1/2 MILE SHORT OF RWY 14. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT SHOWED THE CRANKSHAFT CLUSTER GEAR P/N 630690 WAS MISSING ABOUT 1/2 OF ITS TEETH THAT MESH WITH THE CAM SHAFT DRIVE GEAR. THE FAILURE WAS FOUND TO HAVE STARTED AS A FATIGUE TYPE FRACTURE IN ONE OF THE GEAR TEETH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N231KV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N231KV), registered now, S/N 25-0291, 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: 25-0291
- Airframe hours: 597
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-GB 210 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lionel D. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, July 14, 1982, 144 hours before
- Departed: HSI, HASTINGS, NE
- Destination: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: runway 14, 2,600 × 280 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 956 total, 439 in this make and model, 892 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCK, 22 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 19830420014629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830420014629A), Apr 20, 1983: Mooney M20K, Trenton, NE, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency landing after engine failure. Crankshaft cluster gear teeth failed. Pn 630690.

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.

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