Houston County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mc Kinnon, Tennessee 37175
Thursday, June 28, 2012 11:47 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was conducting a formation flight when the airplane’s engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot and his instructor then conducted a forced landing to a runway and landed long, with the airplane departing the surface and coming to rest in a field. Post accident examination revealed that the number three piston connecting rod cap separated from the piston connecting rod when the hardware came loose and the connecting rod disconnected during flight. Maintenance records showed that the engine had been overhauled several years prior to the accident. It is likely that the mechanic did not properly install the connecting rod bolts and nuts, which resulted in the number three piston connecting rod disconnecting during flight, and subsequent loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of the piston connecting rod from the crankshaft due to inadequate installation from a mechanic, resulting in a total loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1147
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Mc Kinnon
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37175
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 361900N
Event Location Longitude 0875500W
Event Location Airport HOUSTON COUNTY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID M93
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 370
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID HOP
Elevation of weather observation facility 570
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 29
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 40
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31808
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2013 8:54AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N174JB
NTSB Number ERA12LA422
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-0954
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 Dec 21 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 3930
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name William N. Scott
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NASHVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37221-3611
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name William N. Scott
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NASHVILLE
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37221-3611
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code M33
Departure City Gallatin
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code M93
Destination City Mc Kinnon
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2013 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 08
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 914
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --