SAN DIEGO, CA, USA
N3875H
MOONEY M20J
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. A TURN WAS MADE TO LAND ON RWY 10R, BUT THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE LANDING AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE MADE A WHEELS-UP LANDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. AN INSPECTIONOF THE ENGINE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF DETONATION OR PREIGNITION IN THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER. ANOTHER PILOT, WHO HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT, SAID THAT WHEN HE WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT FROM A LONG FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE OIL TEMP AND CYLINDER HEAD TEMP ROSE ABOVE THE RED LINE. AFTER LANDING, HE NOTIFIED THE OPERATOR. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT A NEW SET OF SPARK PLUGS WERE INSTALLED AFTER THAT FLIGHT AND THE ENGINE RAN FINE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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