Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Beaumont, Texas 77705
Thursday, June 29, 2006 18:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 257-hour private pilot was on initial climb after takeoff when the airplane's propeller RPM began an uncommanded fluctuation followed by an internal failure of the engine. Although the engine continued to run, it was emitting smoke and shaking "violently." The pilot elected to shut down the engine and perform a landing to a grassy field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a barbwire fence. A teardown examination of the engine was performed. The propeller governor was found installed contrary to the engine manufacture's Parts Catalog and Service Instructions. The improper governor installation allowed the engine oil to vent overboard, which resulted in oil starvation and failure of a number four piston to crankshaft connecting rod cap bolt. Subsequently the number four connecting rod was forced through the engine crankcase and engine power was lost.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The improper installation of the propeller governor by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 6/29/2006
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Beaumont
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77705
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 295703N
Event Location Longitude 0940123W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 53
Weather Observation Facility ID BPT
Elevation of weather observation facility 15
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20630
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2006 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Houston, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5662M
NTSB Number DFW06IA171
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1393
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jun 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 1683
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael E Lopez, Michael Lenway
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1780 Becky Lane
Aircraft Owner City Kountz
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77625
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BPT
Departure City BEAUMONT
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code T90
Destination City WINNIE/STOWELL
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 30 2006 5:31PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --