Pilot Debrief

MOONEY M20C near Sand Springs, OK — 2016-04-21

Final reportCEN16LA164
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Date
2016-04-21
Location
Sand Springs, OK, USA
Airport
OWP
Aircraft
MOONEY M20C
Registration
N6870N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot did not confirm the amount of fuel onboard the airplane during the preflight inspection, but later reported that the fuel gauges indicated that the left tank was about 1/4 full and that the right tank was about 1/3 full. He then departed on the airplane's first flight in nearly one year. During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. Only a few drops of fuel were recovered from the fuel pump and gascolator, but the fuel revealed no evidence of water or other contamination. The fuel tanks were not compromised during impact. No fuel was observed in the left tank, and 10 to 12 ounces were drained from that sump. The right tank appeared to contain several gallons of fuel; however, the amount could not be quantified. The fuel selector was positioned to the left tank. The pilot reported that he relied on bad information from the fuel gauges and overestimated the amount of fuel available in the left tank; therefore, the loss of engine power is consistent with fuel starvation due to the pilot's selection of the left fuel tank, which contained an unusable amount of fuel.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have dip-sticked fuel tanks before takeoff to verify fuel levels.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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