Pilot Debrief

MOONEY AIRPLANE CO INC M20TN near San Antonio, TX — 2014-05-10

Final reportCEN14LA234
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Date
2014-05-10
Location
San Antonio, TX, USA
Airport
SSF
Aircraft
MOONEY AIRPLANE CO INC M20TN
Registration
N563JK
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination and testing of the engine revealed no anomalies.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he intended to practice takeoffs and landings, and he completed the first takeoff and landing without incident. While on the base leg of the landing pattern after the second takeoff, the pilot pushed the throttle forward, and the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to regain engine power, so he made a forced landing into a small clearing, which resulted in substantial damage and a serious injury. The postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The fuel-injected engine was shipped to the manufacturer for further examination and an engine run, during which the engine demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing when airspeed dropped below 80 knots.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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