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NTSB Identification: ERA12LA532
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 26, 2012 in East Hampton, NY
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/13/2013
Aircraft: MOONEY M20C, registration: N557M
Injuries: 2 Serious.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot reported that after takeoff, he retracted the landing gear and flaps and that the engine rpm decreased from 2,750 rpm to 2,400 rpm. He verified that the carburetor heat was off and that the throttle, propeller, and mixture controls were full forward. He declared an emergency with the control tower controller and turned left in an attempt to land on a closed runway. During the turn, "the engine became quiet," and the airplane collided with trees.
Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine showed no evidence of precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. Review of the FAA carburetor icing probability chart showed that conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to light carburetor icing at cruise and glide power; however, the airplane was operating at a higher power setting. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
On August 26, 2012, at 1736 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N557M, registered to a private owner, experienced a total loss of engine power on initial takeoff climb from East Hampton Airport (HTO), East Hampton, New York. During the pilot’s attempt to return to the airport he collided with trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage due to impact and postcrash fire. The private pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. The flight was operating as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
According to the pilot, after an uneventful preflight inspection, he completed a successful engine start and proceeded to taxi to the departure runway. After completing his engine runup, he departed runway 10. Once airborne the pilot retracted the landing gear and flaps and the engine rpm decreased from 2,750 rpm to 2,400 rpm. The pilot verified the carburetor heat was off, and the throttle, propeller, and mixture controls were full forward. He declared an emergency with East Hampton Control Tower and turned left in an attempt to return to a closed runway. During the turn "the engine became quiet" and the airplane collided with trees.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed postcrash fire damage to both wing spars, the right and left horizontal stabilizers, and right and left elevators. The cabin area had been entirely consumed by the postcrash fire. Both wing spars were attached to the fuselage; however, the wing assemblies were located on top of a grassy noel. Continuity of the flight controls was confirmed at the accident scene. The position of the nose landing gear could not be confirmed as it had been obstructed by the engine and cockpit debris. The main landing gear were in the retracted position. The tail section of the airplane was separated from the fuselage. Both horizontal stabilizers and elevators remained attached and were fire damaged. The rudder assembly remained attached to the horizontal stabilizer.
Examination of the engine by an FAA Inspector and a representative of Lycoming Engines confirmed continuity of the crankshaft to the rear gears and to the valve train. Compression was observed at all four cylinders as the crankshaft was rotated. The interiors of the cylinders were examined with a lighted borescope and no anomalies were noted. The propeller blade marked “A” was bent aft about 5 degrees. The propeller blade marked “B” exhibited scuffed paint near the propeller tip and was free to rotate in the hub. The blade marked “C” was bent aft about 100 degrees, about 18 inches outboard of the hub. The blade tip was bent forward and about 1.5 inches of the tip was broken off and not observed. The carburetor was partially disassembled for examination and the float bowl displayed signs of fire distortion. The carburetor floats were destroyed by fire and the bowl parting surface gasket was partially burned. No fuel was observed in the carburetor. The engine fuel system hoses were fire damaged. The carburetor fuel inlet screen was fire damaged and no debris was observed within the screen. The magnetos, which were fire damaged, remained attached to the engine and could not be operated. The engine driven fuel pump also remained attached to the engine and was partially consumed in the fire. A review of the oil system revealed that the oil filter media was charred but no debris was noted between the folds of the media. The oil cooler was partially separated from the engine and was fire damaged. Oil was observed in the engine.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. The pilot’s most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on June 30, 2012. The pilot reported 1,200 total hours of flight experience with over 330 hours in the M20C.
The single-engine airplane, was powered by a Lycoming O-360-A1D, serial number L-8683-36A, 180-horsepower engine. An annual inspection was completed on March 1, 2012 at 3,984 total aircraft hours. Total time since field overhaul was 622 hours.
At 1735, the weather observation at HTO, included wind from 160 degrees at 10 knots, 10 miles visibility, and scattered clouds at 1,500 feet. The temperature was 23 degrees C, the dew point was 17 degrees C, and the altimeter setting was 30.29 inches of mercury.
Review of the FAA carburetor icing probability chart showed that conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to light carburetor icing at cruise and glide power.
NTSB Identification: ERA12LA532
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 26, 2012 in East Hampton, NY
Aircraft: MOONEY M20C, registration: N557M
Injuries: 2 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 26, 2012, at 1715 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N557M, registered to a private owner, experienced a total loss of engine power on initial takeoff climb from East Hampton Airport (HTO) East Hampton, New York. The pilot attempted to return to the airport and the airplane collided with trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage due to impact and a postcrash fire. The private pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. The flight was operating as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed HTO at 1714.
The pilot stated he conducted a preflight inspection and no anomalies were noted. He completed an engine start, taxi, and engine run up. No anomalies were noted. He departed from runway 10. The airplane became airborne and he retracted the landing gear and flaps. The engine rpm decreased from 2,750 rpm to 2,400 rpm. He verified the carburetor heat was off, and the throttle, propeller, and mixture controls were full forward. He declared an emergency with East Hampton Control Tower and turned left in an attempt to return to a closed runway. During the turn "the engine became quiet" and the airplane collided with trees.
The airplane has been recovered pending further examination.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 557M Make/Model: MO20 Description: M20, M20A/B/C/D/E/F/G/J/L/R/S, M20K/M (T
Date: 08/26/2012 Time: 2136
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Serious Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: EAST HAMPTON State: NY Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE, NEAR EAST
HAMPTON, NY
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 2 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: FARMINGDALE, NY (EA11) Entry date: 08/27/2012
Photo credit: John Roca | East Hampton Town Police secure the scene on Daniel's Hole Road after a small plane crashed shortly after taking off from East Hampton airport injuring a pilot and his passenger. (Aug. 26, 2012)- Light aircraft developed engine trouble shortly after taking off from East Hampton Airport in Long Island
- Eyewitness said: 'He did something special. It was unbelievable'
- Both pilot and female passenger escaped with only minor injuries
Craig Schum, 33, from Brooklyn, jumped out of his Jeep after seeing the light aircraft come down after taking off from East Hampton Airport in Long Island.
Mr Schum, who has been working at a bakery in Wainscott, Long Island, saw the pilot staggering around close to the wreckage but then noticed a woman was still inside.
Accident investigators are expected to return Monday morning to the scene of a single-engine plane crash in East Hampton that left the pilot and a passenger injured, officials said.
The private plane, a low-wing Mooney, crashed in a wooded area near Daniels Hole Road and burst into flames moments after taking off from East Hampton Town Airport Sunday, East Hampton Town police said.
Read more: http://abclocal.go.com
The pilot of the craft and his passenger escaped and are being transported to Stony Brook University Hospital.
A small plane crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off at the East Hampton Airport on Sunday evening.
Airport Manager Jim Brundige said two people were on board, but there were no fatalities. Both were being flown to Stony Brook University Hospital.
Supervisor Bill Wilkinson was on the scene.
“All we know is that a light aircraft took off, declared emergency right after take off and crashed within the airport boundary,” said Mr. Brundige.
Details are still sketchy and will be reported when they become available.
http://www.27east.com
A two-seater plane crashed at East Hampton Airport at roughly 5:30 p.m. this evening with two occupants being airlifted to a local hospital with burns, sources told The Post.
The small plane burst into flames after ending up in the woods near the small, but busy, facility as local emergency crews rushed to the scene to douse the flames and to transport the injured.
The unidentified victims were departing from the airport at the time of the crash, sources said.
The facility has been temporarily closed during the busy Sunday evening rush of planes and helicopters departing the East End.
