Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Elma, Washington 98541
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 14:47 PDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The airplane was returning to its home airport following an aerial observation mission. A witness reported that the airplane was making a clattering noise as it flew over her home and commented that it sounded as if it was running out of oil. The witness estimated the airplane to be 100-150 feet above ground level. A second witness reported that the airplane descended into the tree canopy and collided with power transmission lines. Post accident examination of the engine revealed extensive thermal and impact related damage. The main bearings exhibited erosion and copper was visible. A large hole was observed in the engine crankcase above the number four cylinder bay and mechanical damage was observed to the area surrounding the cylinder. The number four connecting rod remained attached to the piston; however, the connecting rod was separated from the crankshaft at the base of the yoke. Fragments of the associated connecting rod cap and corresponding bolt were found within the engine oil sump; only residual oil (less than one quart) was observed within the sump along with debris, which was consistent with main bearing material and had obscured the oil pickup screen. Two fractures were found on the connecting rod near the end of the rod. The first noted was a fatigue fracture that initiated at the crankshaft end connecting rod journal surface just below the boss for the connecting rod bolt/nut. On the opposite side of the connecting rod, in a similar location, a second fracture was identified. The fracture was the result of mechanical overload and initiated at the connecting rod journal surface. The connecting rod bolt fracture surface exhibit features consistent with mechanical overload. The lack of engine oil found in the crankcase is believed to have contributed to the main bearing erosion; however, it was not determined if the bearing erosion was the initiating event.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the fatigue failure of the number 4 cylinder connecting rod.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 7/22/2009 |
| Event Day of the Week | Wednesday |
| Time of Event | 1447 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Daylight Time |
| Event City | Elma |
| Event State | WASHINGTON |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 98541 |
| Event Date Year | 2009 |
| Event Date Month | 7 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 470229N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1232605W |
| 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 | 1453 Pacific Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 45 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KSHN |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 273 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 19 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | PDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 1500 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | -- |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Overcast |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 18 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 13 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 16 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 16 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 20 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.03 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | METAR KSHN 222153Z AUTO 21016G20KT 10SM OVC015 18/ |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 27074 |
| NTSB Notification Source | Washington State Patrol |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 18 2010 5:48PM |
| User who most recently changed record | stam |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N6422U |
| NTSB Number | WPR09LA362 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | Unknown |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | Ground |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | MOONEY |
| Aircraft Model | M20C |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 2169 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2575 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | 1 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 3 |
| 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 1 2009 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 3231 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Donald C Mead |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | OLYMPIA |
| Aircraft Owner State | WA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 98512-7438 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Donald C Mead |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | OLYMPIA |
| Operator State | WA |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 98512-7438 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| 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) | Aerial Observation |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | KOLM |
| Departure City | Olympia |
| Departure State | WA |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1417 |
| Departure Time Zone | PDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere |
| Destination Airport Code | KOLM |
| Destination City | Olympia |
| Destination State | WA |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 18 2010 5:29PM |
| User who most recently changed record | stam |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |