# NTSB NYC07LA157: Mooney M20E, N7837V, Winnsboro, SC, July 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2007, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Winnsboro, SC - Coordinates: 34.315277, -81.108612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3153&lon=-81.1086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66129 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66129/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA157 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to contamination within the fuel injector servo, which was not detected during a recent inadequate annual inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fuel system,injector - contamination (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis A certified flight instructor (CFI) was flying with a commercial pilot who was receiving dual flight instruction towards a flight instructor certificate. After practicing a simulated engine failure, the airplane was in cruise flight at an altitude of 2,200 feet msl, when the engine rpm suddenly dropped to 800 rpm. The CFI was not able to restore engine power, and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane's left wing struck a tree stump and was substantially damaged. During a post-accident test run, the engine ran rough, with intermittent surges. After the fuel injector servo was removed and a replacement installed, the engine ran smoothly through 2,500 rpm. Subsequent examination of the fuel injector servo revealed that the fuel inlet screen had more than 50 percent of its exterior surface covered in light brown corrosion/contamination, and two-thirds of the inlet fitting was blocked by debris. In addition, contamination was noted throughout the fuel servo. The airplane had been operated for about 5 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 3 months prior to the accident. The airplane manufacture's annual inspection guidelines included inspecting the fuel injection system, and cleaning the screens per the engine manufacturer's recommendations. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2007, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N7837V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight, near Winnsboro, South Carolina. The certificated flight instructor (CFI), and the certificated commercial pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), Columbia, South Carolina, about 1445, destined for the Fairfield County Airport (FDW). The instructional flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The CFI reported that the commercial pilot was receiving dual flight instruction towards a flight instructor certificate. They had completed a simulated engine failure and were in cruise flight at an altitude of 2,200 feet mean sea level, when the engine rpm suddenly dropped to 800 rpm. The CFI was not able to restore engine power, and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane's left wing struck a tree stump, and was substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The engine was removed and subsequently test run on July 27, 2007. After some initial troubleshooting, the engine was started. It ran rough, with intermittent surges and exhibited characteristics of running with a lean mixture. After the fuel injector servo was removed and a replacement installed, another test run was attempted. The engine started and ran smoothly through 2,500 rpm. In addition, all temperatures and pressures were within their normal operating limits. The fuel injector servo was subsequently examined at it's manufacturer, under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examination revealed that the fuel inlet screen had more than 50 percent of its exterior surface covered in light brown corrosion/contamination, and two-thirds of the inlet fitting was blocked by debris. In addition, contamination was noted throughout the fuel injector servo. The engine and fuel injector servo were both overhauled in July 1993, and had accumulated about 690 hours of operation. The airplane had been operated for about 5 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on April 1, 2007. The airplane manufacturer's annual inspection guidelines included inspecting the fuel injection system, and cleaning the screens per the engine manufacturer's recommendations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7837V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7837V-2012-12-10), registration cancelled 2012-12-10, S/N 459, 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: 459 - Airframe hours: 4117 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007, 5 hours before - Departed: CAE, Columbia, SC - Destination: FDW, Winnsboro, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 47; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 15,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 14,800 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: CAE, 25 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 20070703011379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070703011379A), Jul 3, 2007: Mooney M20E, Winnsboro, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 03, 2007, Mooney M20E departed cae @ 1445 and was enroute to fdw. This was an instructional flight for a CFI applicant. A simulated engine… 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.