# NTSB NYC06LA231: Mooney M-18L, N397A, Lexington, KY, September 29, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2006, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Lexington, KY - Coordinates: 38.131668, -83.941665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1317&lon=-83.9417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64628 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06LA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64628/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA231 ## Probable cause The failure of both magnetos which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - ignition system,magneto - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis After the airplane reached its cruising altitude of 3,000 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot cycled the magnetos and applied carburetor heat; however, engine power was not regained. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a fence. Examination of the engine revealed the magnetos did not produce spark when tested. The magnetos were disassembled and it was noted that the left magneto had a shorted condenser and the right magneto points were almost closed. The right magneto points were properly adjusted; the magneto was tested and produced spark. According to the aircraft maintenance records, the magnetos were last overhauled 40 years prior to the accident, and had accumulated 500 hours of operation since then. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 2006, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M-18L, N397A, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lexington, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which departed the Madison Airport (I39), Richmond, Kentucky, at 1300, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection prior to takeoff, with no abnormalities noted. Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, after the airplane reached its cruising altitude of 3,000 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot cycled the magnetos and applied carburetor heat; however, engine power was not regained. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a fence, substantially damaging the left wing and horizontal stabilizer. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the fuel tanks and carburetor fuel bowl contained fuel. Examination of the magnetos revealed they did not produce spark when tested. The magnetos were disassembled and it was noted that the left magneto had a shorted condenser and the right magneto points were almost closed. The right magneto points were properly adjusted; the magneto was tested and produced spark. According to the aircraft maintenance records, the magnetos were last overhauled on December 22, 1966, and had 500 hours of operation since the overhaul. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed on May 16, 2006, with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N397A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N397A-2013-07-19), registration cancelled 2013-07-19, S/N 58, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M-18L - Registry model: [Mooney M-18L](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-18l) (registry code 5870106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-145B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-145b-series) (registry code 41502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 58 - Airframe hours: 1160 - Engines: Lycoming O-145 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stephen Lowther - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006 - Departed: I39, Lexington, KY - Destination: I39 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 240 total, 43 in this make and model, 169 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 12 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 20060929020059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060929020059A), Sep 29, 2006: Mnmite M18L, Lexington, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was fueled 09/23/2006 the week before the accident at rockwood (rkw). The aircraft was topped off and a one hour trip to richmond KY (I39)… 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.