Mooney M20E N5895Q

Summary

On 18 June 2022 at about 14:45 local time, a Mooney M20E registered N5895Q was involved in an accident near Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 June 2022 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

36.1726, -96.9595

Aircraft

Mooney M20E

Registration

N5895Q

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seminole → Benton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA255

Nobody was injured.

The inadequate maintenance and inspection of the engine induction air coupling, which impeded airflow to the engine and resulted in the subsequent partial loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, the engine lost partial power, which necessitated an emergency landing on a highway. During the landing, the airplane impacted a road barrier, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. During a postaccident examination, the induction air coupling was found wrapped in gray tape. When the tape was removed, separations were visible on the top and bottom at the flange on the inboard side. The top and bottom separations likely reduced the rigidity of the coupling when the engine was operating. Examination of the inside of the coupling showed that the lower portion appeared to be permanently deformed in a manner similar to compression. Therefore, because of the reduction in the coupling’s rigidity, the coupling had likely closed due to suction from the engine, which impeded airflow. Tape should not have been applied as a fix for the induction coupling separations. The investigation could not determine when the coupling separations appeared or the tape was applied, but those events had likely caused the permanent deformation to the coupling. The airframe and powerplant mechanic, who performed annual inspections for the airplane during the 3 years before the accident. should not have allowed the airplane to return to service with the tape applied and the coupling deformed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.