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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 19, 1987 · Mooney M20A · N8391E

Middlefield, OH

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 19, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Middlefield, OH
Aircraft
Mooney M20A
Tail Number
N8391E
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL87LA172

The aircraft struck a fence during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power in flight. The pilot reported that he had topped off both main fuel tanks prior to departure. About 10 minutes after departure at about 4000 ft MSL, he smelled fuel fumes in the cockpit. He observed that the fuel level gauge for the tank in use was indicating 1/2 full. The engine completely lost power shortly thereafter. Efforts to restart the engine by turning on the boost pump and switching tanks were unsuccessful. Post-crash examination of the aircraft by the FAA revealed evidence of a fuel gascolator leak. The gascolator gaskets appeared to be homemade. No problems were found to exist in the rest of the fuel system or the engine. The aircraft had acquired 2 hours flight time since the last annual, which was accomplished 3 weeks before the accident. The mechanic who performed the annual reported that he had disassembled and cleaned the gascolator prior to completing the inspection.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT STRUCK A FENCE DURING A FORCED LDG, FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE PWR IN FLIGHT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TOPPED OFF BOTH MAIN FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE AT ABOUT 4000 FT MSL, HE SMELLED FUEL FUMES IN THE COCKPIT. HE OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE FOR THE TANK IN USE WAS INDICATING 1/2 FULL. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER SHORTLY THEREAFTER. EFFORTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY TURNING ON THE BOOST PUMP AND SWITCHING TANKS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ACFT BY THE FAA REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A FUEL GASCOLATOR LEAK. THE GASCOLATOR GASKETS APPEARED TO BE HOMEMADE. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND TO EXIST IN THE REST OF THE FUEL SYSTEM OR THE ENGINE. THE ACFT HAD ACQUIRED 2 HRS FLT TIME SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL, WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE ANNUAL REPORTED THAT HE HAD DISASSEMBLED AND CLEANED THE GASCOLATOR PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE INSPECTION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:50 EDT
Nearest AirportGeauga County (2nm W)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20A
Tail NumberN8391E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data