Pilot Debrief

MOONEY M20R near Myrtle Beach, SC — 2017-05-09

Final reportERA17LA175
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Date
2017-05-09
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Airport
MYR
Aircraft
MOONEY M20R
Registration
N20835
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane sank in the ocean and was not recovered.

NTSB narrative

During initial climb from a coastal airport for the personal flight, when the airplane was about 300 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. The private pilot ditched the airplane in the ocean near the shore. The pilot was rescued, but the airplane sank and was not recovered. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed about 7 months before the accident. The airplane's engine was overhauled about 6 months before the accident and had accrued 138 hours of operation from the time of overhaul until the accident. During that time, the oil had been changed and the filter element inspected three times with no abnormalities noted. Because the airplane was not recovered from the ocean and could not be examined, the reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Performing a thorough preflight inspection could have identified potential engine issues.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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