# NTSB NYC00LA069: Mooney M20M, N223KT, Montpelier, VT, January 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 21, 2000, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Montpelier, VT - Location: 44.2664° N, 72.5715° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montpelier, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2664&lon=-72.5715&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48561 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48561/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA069 ## Probable cause A blocked crankcase breather line due to ice and improper maintenance which resulted in further restricting the line. A factor in this accident was the below freezing outside air temperature. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise - weather condition - temperature,low (contributing factor) - miscellaneous,engine - blocked(total) (cause) - maintenance - improper (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis A few minutes after takeoff, the pilot realized the engine was not developing full manifold pressure; shortly thereafter, the engine lost all oil pressure. When the engine began to vibrate, the pilot shut down the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane revealed the engine's cowling was covered with oil, and the engine's crankshaft seal had been 'blown outward.' Ice was observed in the engine crankcase breather line. Additionally, a 'bend' was found in the breather line near a clamp that was installed over the breather line vent hole. There were no other discrepancies found with airplane. The outside air temperature reported at the airport about the time of the accident was 0 degrees F. The airplane was last flown 1 week prior to the accident. The airplane was kept in an unheated hanger; however, the engine was preheated using a built-in engine heater to an oil temperature of 40 degrees F, just prior to engine start. ## Factual narrative On January 21, 2000, about 1235 Eastern Standard Time, a Mooney M20M, N223KT, was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Edward F. Knapp State Airport (MPV), Montpelier, Vermont. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Essex County Airport, Caldwell, New Jersey. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, a few minutes after takeoff, he realized the engine was not developing full manifold pressure; shortly thereafter, the engine lost all oil pressure. When the engine began to vibrate, the pilot shut down the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed the engine's cowling was covered with oil, and the engine's crankshaft seal had been "blown outward." Ice was observed in the engine crankcase breather line. Additionally, a "bend" was found in the breather line near a clamp that was installed over the breather line vent hole. There were no other discrepancies found with airplane. The weather reported at MPV, at 1232 was: Winds from 320 degrees at 12 knots; Visibility 8 miles; Few clouds at 2,100 feet, Broken clouds at 2,600 and 4,200 feet; Temperature 0 degrees F; Dewpoint minus 9 degrees F; Altimeter 29.52 in/hg. According to the pilot, the airplane was last flown for 2.4 hours, on January 14, 2000. The airplane was kept in an unheated hanger; however, the engine was preheated using a built-in engine heater to an oil temperature of 40 degrees F, just prior to engine start. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N223KT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N223KT-2012-04-10), registration cancelled 2012-04-10, S/N 27-0067 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20M - Registry model: [Mooney M20M](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20m) (registry code 5870222) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-0067 - Airframe hours: 851 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stefan Kurant - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1999, 97 hours before - Departed: MPV - Destination: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MPV, Edward F. Knapp State, runway 35, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,173 total, 107 in this make and model, 973 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 12 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MPV, 6 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 20000121035339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000121035339A), Jan 21, 2000: Mooney M20M, Barre Montpelie, VT, Substantial damage. (.4)A few minutes after takeoff, the pilot realized the engine was not developing full manifold pressure; shortly thereafter, the engine lost all oil pressure.… 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.