# NTSB WPR21LA119: Mooney M20E, N3254F, Livermore, CA, February 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 23, 2021, 16:45 local (Feb 24, 2021, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Livermore, CA · City Street - Coordinates: 37.699086, -121.81075 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6991&lon=-121.8107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102679 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102679/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102679 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA119 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of corrosion and rust in the fuel injection servo. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870212), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane impacted a car, resulting in substantial damage. An engine examination revealed rust and a black material on the fuel injection servo filter plug. The fuel flow servo diaphragm contained a hard grey sludge. When the fuel injection servo was functionally tested, no fuel flow was observed. The servo was disassembled, and corrosion and debris were identified in the regulator center body and diaphragm assembly. It is likely that corrosion and debris restricted the flow of fuel to the engine, resulting in fuel starvation and the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 2021, at 1645 Pacific standard time, a Mooney M20E, N3254F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Livermore, California. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the takeoff from runway 7 was normal; about 100 ft above ground level (agl), the engine lost total power. The pilot elected to make an off-airport landing about 1 mile northeast of the airport on the overpass of Interstate 580. During the landing roll, the propeller struck the trunk of a car. The airplane pivoted around and impacted the left side of the car before coming to a stop near the side of the road. The driver of the car, the sole occupant, was not injured. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane sat outside, and had not been flown for about 8 to 10 years before the accident flight. When the fuel tanks were slumped, a small quantity of water was present in the right fuel tank, and the left tank was free of contamination. A visual examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical damage to the crankcase. The engine was manually rotated, and mechanical and valve train continuity established. The engine-to-magneto timing was within manufacturer limits. The spark plugs were removed and were in good condition. When the engine was manually rotated, the P-leads sparked at all cylinders. The fuel flow divider was disassembled and was clear of debris; the diaphragm was intact. The fuel injectors were removed and were clear of debris. A visual examination of the fuel servo revealed that it was intact and not damaged. The throttle and mixture levers were free to move from stop-to-stop. Before attaching it to the test stand, the fuel servo inlet screen was removed and inspected; debris was observed in the inlet screen. A functional test of the fuel servo was unsuccessful; no fuel flowed through the unit. The fuel servo was disassembled for further examination. Extensive corrosion and debris were noted in the regulator center body and diaphragm assembly, which prevented a successful fuel flow check on the test stand. The corrosion and debris were attributed to water in the system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3254F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3254F-2024-02-03), registration cancelled 2024-02-03, S/N 670047, built 1967 (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: 670047 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 2600 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LVK, Livermore Muni - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 10, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 998 total, 14 in this make and model, 873 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: LVK, 1 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 20210223017189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210223017189A), Feb 23, 2021: Mooney M20E, Livermore, CA, Substantial damage. The aircraft, with two souls onboard, departed Livermore Municipal Airport, (lvk), California, runway 7L on a personal flight. Upon reaching approximately 200… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102679. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12868060&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=JREDSUN_N3254F%206120%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Summary of findings (NTSB) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12868032&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20(NTSB)-Rel.pdf - Engine examination report (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 248 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12867894&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AFC%20Aircraft%20Works%20Investigation%20N3254F-Rel.pdf - Fuel servo exam (NTSB) (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12868284&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA119%20Fuel%20Servo%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Chain of custody (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12886132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Chain%20of%20Custody%20WPR21LA119-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12868070&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA119%20Photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.