# NTSB NYC95LA184: Mooney M20C, N9216V, Montgomery, PA, August 9, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 1995, 20:07 local (Aug 9, 1995, 00:07 UTC) - Place: Montgomery, PA - Coordinates: 41.169593, -76.870681 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1696&lon=-76.8707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39023 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39023/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA184 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power, as a result of an excessively rich fuel flow in the carburetor, and a subsequent forced landing. A factor relating to the accident was the malfunction of the landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, climb - fuel system,carburetor - excessive flow/output (cause) - landing gear - malfunction (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE OBSERVED A LOSS OF AIRSPEED, AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. ALSO THE LANDING GEAR FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING SUFFICIENT POWER TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT, AND HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A CORNFIELD. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRPLANE AND TESTED BY AN FAA INSPECTOR, WHO REPORTED, '...NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED DURING THE ENGINE OPERATION TESTING. BOTH MAGNETOS TESTED WITHIN LIMITS. ENGINE PERFORMANCE TESTING REVEALED SLIGHTLY RICH CARBURETOR OPERATION....' THE CARBURETOR WAS TESTED AND AN NTSB INVESTIGATOR REPORTED '...FLOW RATES FOR THE SUBJECT ACCIDENT CARBURETOR WERE SLIGHTLY OUT OF TOLERANCE (EXCESS FLOW) FOR ALL THROTTLE SETTINGS GREATER THAN IDLE. THE GREATEST OUT-OF-TOLERANCE SITUATION OCCURRED AT 3/4 THROTTLE SETTING....' ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1995, at 2007 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N9216V, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in Montgomery, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was no flight plan for the personal, local flight that had just departed the Williamsport-Lycoming Airport. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB 6120.1/2 form, the pilot reported that during the takeoff, he noticed that very little right rudder was required. During the climb, he observed a loss of airspeed, and the airplane would not maintain altitude. The pilot made a forced landing in a corn field. Additionally, the pilots attempts to retract the gear during the climb out were unsuccessful, and when the flaps were checked, they were in the retracted position. The engine was test run at Textron Lycoming, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, under the supervision of an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector. The FAA Inspector reported, "...No discrepancies were noted during engine operation testing. Both magnetos tested within limits. Engine performance testing revealed slightly rich carburetor operation...." The carburetor was test run at Precision Airmotive Corporation, Everett, Washington, under the supervision of an NTSB Air Safety Investigator (ASI). The ASI reported, "...Flow rates for the subject accident carburetor were slightly out of tolerance (excess flow) for all throttle settings greater than idle. The greatest out-of-tolerance situation occurred at 3/4 throttle setting...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9216V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9216V-1998-03-12), registration cancelled 1998-03-12, S/N 690050 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 690050 - Airframe hours: 1500 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bms Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1995, 17 hours before - Departed: IPT, WILLIAMSPORT, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 147 total, 90 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IPT, 5 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 19950808023769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950808023769A), Aug 8, 1995: Mooney M20C, Montgomery, PA, Substantial damage. Lost power and gear failed retract on climbout. Carb mixture set too rich. Failed to retract gear a factor. 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.