# NTSB NYC06IA036: Mooney M20F, N52DB, Cadiz, KY, November 24, 2005 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: November 24, 2005, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Cadiz, KY - Coordinates: 36.838054, -87.93972 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8381&lon=-87.9397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Louisville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62870 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06IA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62870/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06IA036 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation, which resulted in a 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, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis About 1 hour and 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot was practicing touch and go landings, when on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine began to lose power. Following an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the pilot ditched the airplane into a lake. After the airplane was recovered from the lake, the right fuel tank was found to contain a mixture of fluid consisting of about 1/2 fuel, and 1/2 water, and the left tank was completely filled with water. Examination of the fuel system revealed the presence of a silicone type sealant around the fuel tank bladder access panels and fragments of sealant loose inside the fuel tank bladder. ## Factual narrative On November 24, 2005, about 1245 central standard time, a Mooney M20F, N52DB, incurred minor damage during a forced landing after takeoff from Lake Barkley State Park Airport (1M9), Cadiz, Kentucky. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that the flight originated at Hopkinsville-Christian County Airport (HVC), Hopkinsville, Kentucky about 1130. Following taxi and a run up of the engine, the pilot departed using the right fuel tank, which was "just below half full." Shortly thereafter, and upon leveling the airplane at 2,500 feet, he switched the fuel selector and began to operate from the left fuel tank, which "showed half full." After some sightseeing, the pilot proceeded to Lake Barkley Airport where he performed 5 touch-and-go landings on runway 2, then departed for some more sightseeing. Shortly thereafter the pilot elected to return to perform additional landings. After 3 touch-and-go landings, and during the turn from the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern to the downwind leg, the engine lost power. When asked to further explain, the pilot reported that while in the climb he noticed that the airplane's performance seemed to decrease, and that he had to lower the nose to maintain airspeed. He could not recall any of the engine instrument indications, or changing sounds of the engine, but did remember that the propeller continued to rotate. During the descent the pilot made a distress call, increased the mixture, propeller, and throttle controls to the full forward position, and attempted an engine restart using the starter. He could not recall if he had switched fuel tanks. The pilot subsequently ditched the airplane into Lake Barkley. The pilot estimated that the total elapsed time between when he departed and when the engine lost power was about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The airplane was equipped with an aftermarket fuel bladder system, which was installed on December 20, 2002. Since that date the airplane had accumulated 9 hours of flight time. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on January 19, 2005. The airplane was recovered from the lake on and examined by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors. The right fuel tank contained a mixture of fluid consisting of about 1/2 fuel, and 1/2 water. The left fuel tank was completely filled with water. Examination of the fuel strainer revealed a small amount of debris. A functional check of the fuel system was conducted utilizing components of the fuel system forward of the fuel pump, and equal fuel flow was observed from all fuel injector nozzles. Examination of the both the left and right fuel bladders revealed a "significant" amount of silicone type sealant was present. The sealant was found around the access panels, and free inside the fuel bladder. The inspectors also observed deformation of the bladder access panel gaskets, indicative of over-torqued access panel fasteners. According to the mechanic who installed the fuel bladders in the airplane, and completed the most recent annual inspection, "I only used the parts and materials called out in the installation procedures provided by the STC holder," and he "would never use silicone on any aircraft fuel system." The weather reported at Campbell Army Airfield (HOP), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, about 22 nautical miles southeast, at 1255, included winds from 310 degrees at 11 knots, few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet, 7 statute miles visibility, temperature 50 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 13 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.85 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52DB), registered now, S/N 22-1399 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20F - Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (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: 22-1399 - Airframe hours: 2306 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005, 10 hours before - Departed: 1M9, Cadiz, KY - Destination: 1M9 - Airport: 1M9, Lake Barkley State Park Apt. ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 6,300 total, 500 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 11 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: HOP, 23 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). - [Incident 20051124029739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051124029739I), Nov 24, 2005: Mooney M20F, Hopkinsville, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed Hopkinsville, KY airport (hvg) at approximately 11:20 hrs on what was to be a local area sight seeing/proficiency flight. Pilot was in… ## Other investigations on N52DB (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA90IA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90IA005), Oct 6, 1989: Mooney M20F (N52DB), Pensacola, FL, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE LANDING GEAR WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERLOAD FAILURE. 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.