# NTSB SEA00LA150: Mooney M20E, N1927Y, Oregon City, OR, August 2, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2000, 18:30 local (Aug 2, 2000, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Oregon City, OR - Coordinates: 45.319442, -122.520271 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3194&lon=-122.5203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49882/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA150 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor was the rough/uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis While descending through 2,000 feet, the Mooney M20E's Lycoming IO-360-A1A engine stopped operating. The pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the fuel boost pump without success, and then executed a forced landing to rough/uneven terrain in an agricultural field. On site examination revealed fuel in both fuel tanks. The FAA inspector assigned to the accident reported that in a post-crash examination and test run of the engine the 'fuel control servo appeared to be blocked for unknown reason' and that 'fuel pressure going in the fuel servo was considerably/extremely low at [the] outlet and would not sustain engine operation.' The fuel servo was removed and flow checked with no discrepancies noted. The servo was then re-installed in the aircraft and the FAA inspector observed a second test run during which the engine successfully operated with no discrepancies noted. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2000, approximately 1830 Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N1927Y, registered to Wrightco Motorcycle Accessories, Inc., and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing six nautical miles southeast of Oregon City, Oregon. The pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Estacada, Oregon, and was en route to Mulino, Oregon. The pilot reported in a telephonic interview that he had initiated a descent from 2,000 feet above sea level to his destination when the engine abruptly stopped operating. He then attempted to trouble shoot the power loss by selecting alternate fuel tanks, and then boost pump operation, without success. He then executed a forced landing to an agricultural field encountering rough terrain during the landing rollout. Post-crash examination and test run of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Hillsboro, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office inspector assigned to the accident was conducted shortly after the accident. The aircraft was leveled at the site and both left and right fuel tanks were observed to be approximately half full. The inspector reported that during the test run, the "fuel control servo appeared to be blocked for unknown reason" and that "fuel pressure going in the fuel servo was considerably/extremely low at [the] outlet and would not sustain engine operation." The fuel servo unit was removed from the aircraft's Lycoming IO-360-A1A engine and shipped to the Safety Board's Northwest Regional Office. It was subsequently flow checked at the facilities of Precision Airmotive on October 20, 2000. No discrepancies were noted during the flow check (refer to attached report). The fuel servo was returned to the maintenance facility that had removed it with instructions to re-install it in the aircraft. The FAA's Hillsboro Flight Standards District Office inspector assigned to the investigation returned to the maintenance facility and observed a second test run of the engine. He reported that the engine successfully operated with no discrepancies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1927Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1927Y-2018-08-09), registration cancelled 2018-08-09, S/N 234 (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: 234 - Airframe hours: 4425 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wright, Elden D. - Registered owner: Wrightco Motorcycle Acc.'S Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 1999, 40 hours before - Departed: 5S9, ESTACADA, OR - Destination: MULINO, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UAO, 10 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 20000801006239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000801006239A), Aug 1, 2000: Mooney M20E, Oregon City, OR, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated that during a personal flight from estacada to mulino, Oregon, the aircraft lost power, fuel tanks were changed, and fuel pump energized.… 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.