# NTSB WPR22LA243: Mooney M20C, N6416U, Oxnard, CA, July 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 10, 2022, 14:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: Oxnard, CA - Coordinates: 34.200673, -119.19487 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2007&lon=-119.1949&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105445/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105445 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA243 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to an inappropriately maintained and modified fuel selector valve. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Maintenance: modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5870208), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20C, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, the day before the accident, he filled the airplane to capacity with fuel and then flew 50 miles to his home base. On the day of the accident, he visually examined the fuel tanks through the filler caps but did not use a dipstick. The right tank was full, and he determined that the left fuel tank contained about 15 gallons. He selected the right tank for takeoff and initial cruise, however the selector valve handle felt stiffer than usual. About halfway into the flight as he was about to switch tanks, he noticed that the right fuel tank gauge was still indicating full, but the left tank was empty. He confirmed the right tank was selected, but a short time later the engine lost all power. He performed trouble shooting steps and moved the fuel selector valve back and forth, but it now felt loose. A forced landing was initiated at a nearby airport, however, the airplane landed short of the runway, struck a fence, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. Post-accident examination revealed that the right fuel tank had been breached on impact and contained no fuel, and although the left fuel tank was intact, it was empty. There was no fuel in the line from the fuel selector valve to the carburetor, and the carburetor bowl was empty. Both fuel caps were in place at their respective filler necks, all fuel lines fittings were tight, and there was no evidence on the airframe or wings of staining or streaks to indicate an inflight fuel leak. The fuel selector valve handle was pointing to the right tank and could be moved between positions but felt tight and had a rasping action. Once in the respective tank positions, the handle was loose, and no definitive detent was felt. Further examination revealed that the handle was slipping on the selector shaft, which remained stationary at the left tank position. Mooney specifications called for the handle to be keyed in position with a roll pin fitted to the shaft and secured with a set screw. Examination revealed that the roll pin had previously broken, and the handle was instead held in place with an oversized stainless-steel screw in place of the set screw. The screw appeared to have come loose, such that without the roll pin it was not positively attached to the shaft. Under this condition, movement of the handle did not result in movement of the fuel sector valve, and it was stuck in the left position throughout the accident and previous flights. A photo of the instrument panel that the pilot stated he took about 40 minutes before the loss of engine power indicated that the airplane was flying at an altitude of 6,500 ft. The left tank contained between 8 and 10 gallons of fuel. This should still have been sufficient for continued flight beyond the accident location. However, the accuracy of the gauges could not be determined, and the airplane was not equipped with a secondary fuel quantity reference device such as a totalizer. Additionally, because the pilot did not dip thetank before takeoff, the true quantity of preflight fuel could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6416U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6416U), registered now, S/N 2163, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2163 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 5089.34 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 2021, 16 hours before - Departed: CRQ, Carlsbad, CA - Destination: OXR, Oxnard, CA - Airport: OXR, Oxnard, runway 25, 5,953 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 3, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 100.4 total, 17.4 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Observed at: OXR, 1 nm away - METAR: OXR,2022-07-10 14:51,KOXR 102151Z 26013KT 10SM CLR 22/15 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP159 T02170150 ## 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 20220710012129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220710012129A), Jul 10, 2022: Mooney M20C, Oxnard, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated he departed carlsbad, CA heading to san louis obispo with 15 gallons of fuel in the LH wing and RH wing topped off. The fuel tank selector was… ## Other investigations on N6416U (1) 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. - [NTSB UNK65X0185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0185), Oct 7, 1964: Mooney M20C (N6416U), Sugarland, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105445. 27.7 MB in all. - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 1 photo, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385614&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15384998&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20conversation%20Jack%20St%20Marie%20Pilot%2007%2011%2022-Rel.pdf - NTSB examination report (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 6 photos, 912 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Exam%20Report-Rel.pdf - Video of fuel selector valve handle movement - NTSB (item 4, MOV, 19.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385624&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=Video%20Attachment%201-Rel.MOV - Maintenance logbook excerpts (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_Logbook%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Fuel purchase photo July 9, 2022 - provided by the pilot (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N6416U%20Fuel%20Purchase%207.9.22-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.