San Manuel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Manuel, Arizona 85361
Friday, December 27, 1985 17:53 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE AT 10,500 FT MSL ON A NIGHT X-COUNTRY FLT, THE PLT SAID THE ENG RAN ROUGH WITH MODERATE VIBRATION LEVELS. PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH ABQ ARTCC, WHO VECTORED THE ACFT TO AN UNLIGHTED AIRSTRIP. THE PLT SAID HE HAD DIFFICULTYIN SEEING THE RWY IN THE DARKNESS. THE ACFT LANDED LONG, BLEW A TIRE, VEERED OFF THE RT SIDE OF THE RWY & STRUCK A TREE.EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE #3 CYLINDER WAS AJAR FROM THE CASE, WITH ALL THE TOP HOLD DOWN STUDS & NUTS IN PLACE BUT BENT UPWARD. THE NUTS WERE MISSING FROM THE LOWER FORE & AFT LARGE HOLD DOWN STUDS, & THE REMAINING CENTER STUDS HAD ALL FRACTURED AT THE CYLINDER FLANGE LEVEL. THE ENG WAS OVERHAULED 6 MONTHS AND 21 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE ENG STATED HIS OPINION THAT THE NUTS ON THE LOWER LARGE STUDS WERE UNDERTORQUED AT INSTALLATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1753
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City SAN MANUEL
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85361
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SAN MANUEL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E77
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3275
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 2200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2627
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 27 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1911
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30220
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N234GA
NTSB Number LAX86LA076
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20F
Aircraft Series Identifier M20F
Aircraft Serial Number 680036
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
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 May 3 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 1510
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EUGENE L. HAGGERTY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1200 TAYLOR STREET
Aircraft Owner City SOUTH LAKE
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76092
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 No
Departure Airport Code ELP
Departure City EL PASO
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1645
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PHX
Destination City PHOENIX
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 4200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --