MONTGOMERY, PA, USA
N9216V
MOONEY M20C
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE OBSERVED A LOSS OF AIRSPEED, AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. ALSO THE LANDING GEAR FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING SUFFICIENT POWER TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT, AND HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A CORNFIELD. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRPLANE AND TESTED BY AN FAA INSPECTOR, WHO REPORTED, '...NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED DURING THE ENGINE OPERATION TESTING. BOTH MAGNETOS TESTED WITHIN LIMITS. ENGINE PERFORMANCE TESTING REVEALED SLIGHTLY RICH CARBURETOR OPERATION....' THE CARBURETOR WAS TESTED AND AN NTSB INVESTIGATOR REPORTED '...FLOW RATES FOR THE SUBJECT ACCIDENT CARBURETOR WERE SLIGHTLY OUT OF TOLERANCE (EXCESS FLOW) FOR ALL THROTTLE SETTINGS GREATER THAN IDLE. THE GREATEST OUT-OF-TOLERANCE SITUATION OCCURRED AT 3/4 THROTTLE SETTING....'
On August 8, 1995, at 2007 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N9216V, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in Montgomery, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was no flight plan for the personal, local flight that had just departed the Williamsport-Lycoming Airport. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB 6120.1/2 form, the pilot reported that during the takeoff, he noticed that very little right rudder was required. During the climb, he observed a loss of airspeed, and the airplane would not maintain altitude. The pilot made a forced landing in a corn field. Additionally, the pilots attempts to retract the gear during the climb out were unsuccessful, and when the flaps were checked, they were in the retracted position. The engine was test run at Textron Lycoming, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, under the supervision of an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector. The FAA Inspector reported, "...No discrepancies were noted during engine operation testing. Both magnetos tested within limits. Engine performance testing revealed slightly rich carburetor operation...." The carburetor was test run at Precision Airmotive Corporation, Everett, Washington, under the supervision of an NTSB Air Safety Investigator (ASI). The ASI reported, "...Flow rates for the subject accident carburetor were slightly out of tolerance (excess flow) for all throttle settings greater than idle. The greatest out-of-tolerance situation occurred at 3/4 throttle setting...."
The partial loss of engine power, as a result of an excessively rich fuel flow in the carburetor, and a subsequent forced landing. A factor relating to the accident was the malfunction of the landing gear.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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