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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 7, 2005 · Mooney M20C · N6330Q

Oro Valley, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 7, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Oro Valley, AZ
Aircraft
Mooney M20C
Tail Number
N6330Q
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX05LA261

While entering the arrival pattern at the destination, the airplane exhausted its fuel and the pilot executed an emergency landing short of the runway. The pilot had been airborne for about 5 hours 10 minutes. She had been managing the fuel system by switching tanks about every hour. She made the final switch to the right tank 10 minutes prior to arriving at her destination airport. She overflew the destination airport and executed the prescribed entry. While in a left-hand turn to enter the downwind leg, and at 1,500 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to run abnormally and then lost power. She diverted to the crosswind runway, and landed short of the runway threshold in desert vegetation. An examination of the airplane revealed that neither the left wing fuel tank nor the right wing fuel tank contained fuel. The tanks were not compromised and there was no evidence of fuel leakage. In this unfueled condition, both left and right cockpit fuel gauges read 1/4. The airplane was fueled with 1 gallon avgas in the left tank. The engine was started and ran satisfactorily.

NTSB Probable Cause

a loss of engine power due to the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations that resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the inaccuracy of the cockpit fuel gages which read 1/4 tank when empty.

Full Narrative

On August 7, 2005, at 1245 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20C, N6330Q, collided with terrain while executing an emergency landing after a loss of engine power at La Cholla Air Park, Oro Valley, Arizona. The commercial pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Novato, California, at 0735. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that they had been airborne for about 5 hours 10 minutes. She had been using standard fuel management procedures by switching tanks about every hour. She made the final switch to the right tank at 1230. At 1240, she overflew the La Cholla Air Park and executed a standard entry. While in a left-hand turn to enter the downwind leg, and at 1,500 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to run abnormally and then quit producing power. She diverted to the crosswind runway, and landed short of the runway threshold in desert vegetation. An examination of the airplane revealed that neither the left wing fuel tank or the right wing fuel tank contained fuel. In this unfueled condition both left and right cockpit fuel gages read 1/4. The airplane was fueled with 1 gallon avgas in the left tank. The engine was started and run for approximately 30 seconds before it was shutdown. The propeller was bent, causing the airplane to vibrate severely during the engine test run.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:45 MST
Nearest AirportLa Cholla Airpark (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length1850 ft
Runway Width35 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20C
Tail NumberN6330Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class · None
Crew 2Age 64 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point10 C / 64 F
Altimeter29.80 inHg
Observation Time19:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data