Mooney MK21 N3399X

Summary

On 25 October 1985 at about 02:50 local time, a Mooney MK21 registered N3399X, operated by Earl L.kirkpatrick, was involved in an accident near Warren, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

25 October 1985 at 02:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Warren, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

33.6094, -92.0595

Aircraft

Mooney MK21

Registration

N3399X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Earl L.kirkpatrick

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Birmingham → Forth Worth

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MKC86LA015

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AT CRUISE LEVEL FLT THE PLT RPTD A MALFUNCTIONING ENGINE. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND TO AN AIRPORT IN THE VICINITY. THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS INITIATED DUE TO AN OIL PRESSURE DECLINE. APPROACHING FOR THE LANDING THE PLT RPTD THE ENGINE COMPLETELY QUIT WHICH MADE A LANDINGAT THE AIRPORT IMPOSSIBLE. A TEARDOWN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 1 CONNECTING ROD WAS BROKEN WITH SIGNS OF EXTREME OVER HEATING TO THE POINT OF MELTING AND PERFORMING THE CONNECTING ROD AND CAP. THE ROD BEARING WAS SEVERELY WORN TO A POINT OF BEING PAPER THIN. THE OIL JOURNAL WAS CLOGGED WITH METAL DEBRIS. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION WAS CONFINED TO THIS CYLINDER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.