Mooney M20K N231AX

Summary

On 3 October 1990 at about 19:46 local time, a Mooney M20K registered N231AX was involved in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 October 1990 at 19:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Flagstaff, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

35.2310, -111.7200

Aircraft

Mooney M20K

Registration

N231AX

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91FA001

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DISCREPANCY; INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES; AND THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SMOKE AND FUMES IN THE COCKPIT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD RETURNED FROM AN EARLIER DEPARTURE BECAUSE HE HAD SMOKE INSIDE THE AIRPLANE, AND REQUESTED THE ASSISTANCE OF A MECHANIC. UNABLE TO OBTAIN THIS ASSISTANCE, HE BORROWED A PAIR OF PLIERS FROM THE FBO. AFTER INSPECTING THE AIRPLANE HIMSELF, HE RETURNED THE PLIERS AND COMMENTED SOMETHING ABOUT THE EGT PROBE TO THE LINE PERSON ON DUTY. SOON AFTER THE SECOND DEPARTURE, THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN RETURNING TOWARDS THE AIRPORT TRAILING SMOKE AND POSSIBLY FIRE. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED INVERTED AND DESCENDED INTO TREES. THE AIRPORT MANAGER RESPONDING TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE LOCATED THE EXHAUST TAILPIPE. THE FRACTURED TURBO CLAMP WAS LOCATED AT THE WRECKAGE. METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT CRACKING OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF INTERGRANULAR CORROSION. ON 9/26/90 THE TURBOCHARGER WAS REMOVED, REPAIRED AND REINSTALLED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.