Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kirksville, Missouri 63501
Sunday, April 30, 1995 13:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AS THE AIRPLANE REACHED ITS ASSIGNED CRUISE ALTITUDE, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD AND DURING THE ROLLOUT COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND DITCH. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT FIVE OF SIX HYDRAULIC TAPPET BODY HEADS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE TAPPET BODY. THE TAPPET HEADS WERE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE CASE. THE REASON FOR THE TAPPET BODY HEAD FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loss of engine power due to failure of the engine's hydraulic tappet body heads. Related factors in the accident were the restricted visual lookout, and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/30/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1355
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City KIRKSVILLE
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 63501
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1405 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID IRK
Elevation of weather observation facility 966
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 359
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 1 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4145H
NTSB Number CHI95LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier M20J
Aircraft Serial Number 24-0646
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 17 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 138
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MORRIS HANCOCK FLYING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address R.R. 1, P.O. BOX 719
Aircraft Owner City MORRIS
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56267
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1320
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MOX
Destination City MORRIS
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --