Pilot Debrief

MOONEY M20C near Lonoke county, AR — 2015-01-17

Final reportCEN15LA112
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Date
2015-01-17
Location
Lonoke county, AR, USA
Aircraft
MOONEY M20C
Registration
N6474U
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before departure, he conducted an engine run-up, and everything was in the normal operating range. The pilot then departed, and, shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and then came to rest on its belly. Examination of the airplane revealed that no fuel was visible in the right fuel tank and that about 1/2 inch of fuel was visible in the left fuel tank. The carburetor's float bowl was empty of fuel. The carburetor heat and mixture control cables were broken, and they were not attached to their respective points. The end of the mixture control cable was found wrapped around the attachment's bolt to connect it to the mixture control arm. The mixture control arm was removed from the carburetor; the spring under the control arm appeared intact. The cable's break, located under the bolt head, had both a dull and a shiny section, indicating that it may have been partially fractured for some time. A broken mixture control cable or an inadequate fuel supply can cause a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before takeoff to prevent engine failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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