Windwood Fly-In Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Davis, West Virginia 26260
Sunday, February 8, 1998 16:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During takeoff and approximately 100 feet AGL, the engine began to run rough and lost power. The airplane touched down on a snow covered field, nosed over and came to rest inverted. The engine was tested and the fuel flow was found to fluctuate. The fuel injector servo system was tested and the following discrepancies were found: the safety wire attached to the plug utilized to adjust the diaphragms inside the fuel servo was missing its lead seal. One of the four fuel injector nozzles was blocked. Individual injector nozzles were tested. Debris blocked the flow in one nozzle, and the remainder of the fuel nozzles had an acceptable fuel stream. A representative from Aircraft Fuel Specialists, Ltd.. who conducted the testing, stated that the adjustment to the diaphragms would not cause the loss of power as described to him. He stated that the 'blockage of the inlet screen, which was completely plugged, and the one blocked nozzle were more a factor' in the loss of power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of power due to blockage of the fuel screen and one of the four fuel injector nozzles. A contributing factor was snow covered terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/8/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DAVIS
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 26260
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WINDWOOD FLY-IN AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WV62
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 3200
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1651 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID EKN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1987
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1555
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 8 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4120H
NTSB Number IAD98LA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
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 24-0635
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 Apr 4 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 81
Airframe Hours 997
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES F. KESSLER, III
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1711 CHARLES STREET
Aircraft Owner City NEW CUMBERLAND
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17070
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code WV62
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CXY
Destination City HARRISBURG
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --