NTSB Identification: CEN14LA234
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, May 10, 2014 in San Antonio, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/19/2014
Aircraft: MOONEY AIRPLANE CO INC M20TN, registration: N563JK
Injuries: 1 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 he intended to practice takeoffs and landings, and he completed the first takeoff and landing without incident. While on the base leg of the landing pattern after the second takeoff, the pilot pushed the throttle forward, and the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to regain engine power, so he made a forced landing into a small clearing, which resulted in substantial damage and a serious injury. The postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The fuel-injected engine was shipped to the manufacturer for further examination and an engine run, during which the engine demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination and testing of the engine revealed no anomalies.
On May 10, 2014, about 1305 central daylight time, a Mooney M20TN, N563JK, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power while landing at the Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), San Antonio, Texas. The private pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Chaparral Equipment Leasing LLC under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed SSF about 1250 on a local flight.
The pilot reported that the preflight was normal and the airplane was fueled with 70 gallons of aviation fuel. He did one takeoff and landing on runway 14 without incident. He performed another takeoff from runway 14 and he extended the upwind before turning crosswind due to another airplane landing on runway 09. He erroneously turned final on runway 09, but the SSF tower air traffic controller (ATC) alerted him that he was lined up for runway 09. He corrected course and entered a base leg for runway 14.
The pilot reported that the airspeed dropped below 80 knots, so he pushed the throttle forward 1/2 to 3/4 throttle; however, the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to regain engine power so he made a forced landing into a small clearing along the banks of a river and baseball fields. The pilot did not flare the airplane due to the low airspeed and confined area, so the airplane impacted the terrain hard. The AmSafe airbags installed in the airplane deployed during the ground impact. The pilot crawled out of the cabin and onto the wing where first responders assisted him.
The on-site examination of the airplane wreckage by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed that there appeared to be no apparent reason for the loss of engine power. The airplane wreckage was transported to a storage facility for further examination.
The examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that two of the propeller blades were bent aft, and the third was still straight. The throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were checked for continuity, and the continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the associated components on the engine. All fuel lines were connected forward of the engine firewall. There was no evidence of a fuel leak forward of the firewall. The fuel manifold on the top of the engine was removed for examination. Fuel was found in the fuel manifold. There was no evidence of obstructions, water contamination, or any malfunction of the fuel manifold. Due to impact damage, the engine was sent to Continental Motors for examination and an engine run.
On September 10, 2014, an examination and engine run were conducted at Continental Motors. The engine exhibited impact damage concentrated at the left side exhaust. The left side exhaust runner, turbo and tail pipe were impact damaged and replaced for the test run. The external surfaces of the engine were undamaged with the exception of the No. 6 cylinder rocker cover, which was replaced for the test run. Both left and right turbo cans were replaced for the test run. A dye penetrant inspection was performed on the crankshaft propeller mount flange; there were no crack signatures evident. The fuel manifold valve was reinstalled for the test run.
Upon installation in the test cell, the fuel pump had a leak at the mixture shaft and was replaced with a slave pump and the engine was run using the slave pump. The original fuel pump was placed on the test bench for a determination of the leak source. On the test bench, no leak was observed from the fuel pump. The pump was reinstalled on the engine and a second test run with all of the original components was completed. On this run there were no leaks present at the fuel pump or mixture shaft area.
The engine experienced a normal start on the first attempt. The engine rpm was advanced in steps for warm-up in preparation for full power operation. The engine throttle was advanced to 1,200 rpm and held for five minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was advanced to 1,600 rpm and held for five minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was advanced to 2,450 rpm and held for five minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was advanced to full open position and held for five minutes to stabilize. The engine throttle was rapidly advanced from idle to full throttle six times where it performed normally without any hesitation or interruption in power. The right magneto had a 240 rpm drop during testing caused by impact damaged ignition leads that were not replaced for the engine test run. Throughout the test phase, the engine accelerated normally without any hesitation or interruption in power, and demonstrated the ability to produce rated horsepower.
SAN ANTONIO — A Little League baseball game was just getting started Saturday afternoon when a young boy playing outfield began sprinting from his position toward his dugout.
“People were yelling, 'No! What are you doing?'” SA 5 Diamonds Vice President John Luna said. “He was the only one who saw it.”
Seconds later, a single-engine aircraft bound for the Stinson Municipal Airport soared over the field, barely making it over the outfield fence before crashing at the edge of a creek between Flores Street and Roosevelt Avenue.
“I thought it was going to explode,” said 12-year-old Hector Gonzalez, who was sitting in the dugout when the plane barreled into a fence at the edge of the SA 5 Diamonds' baseball facilities.
Jim Plair was coaching third base when the plane made impact just after 3 p.m. He rushed across the field and jumped a fence to get to the pilot, who managed to pull himself out of the aircraft.
“I thought it was coming in kind of low,” he said.
The pilot, who has not yet been identified, missed the baseball diamonds by feet.
“He did a wonderful job,” Plair said. “The pilot should be commended. He did the right thing.
SAPD Sgt. Trey Roussel said the pilot told authorities he lost power on approach to the airport. At about 700 feet, it became clear he wasn't going to make it to the landing field.
After the impact, the pilot was able to walk under his own power, though several witnesses helped him away from the mangled, single-engine aircraft smashed against a fence.
The pilot was taken to Mission Trails Baptist Hospital with what authorities described as nonlife-threatening injuries.
No other injuries were reported.
A San Antonio Fire Department hazmat crew was at the scene to make sure no fuel was spilling out of the plane.
Roussel said nothing appeared to have leaked.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board will pick up the investigation to determine what caused the crash.
http://www.mysanantonio.com
The wreck happened just after 2 p.m. in the 4100 block of Roosevelt Ave., near the baseball field at the Five Diamonds Ball Park, close to Stinson Airport.
The pilot was reportedly attempting to land, according to the San Antonio Police Department. People said the plane appeared to have lost power before crashing.
Police said the pilot did indeed lose power. The pilot told investigators that he was looking for the best place to land and ended up in a gravel area between two ball fields.
Photos of the wreckage revealed a small white plane that did not appear to have much damage to its frame; however a nearby tree was knocked down by the aircraft.
Witnesses told KENS 5 the pilot got himself out of the plane and was walking around and talking before being transported to an area hospital. The baseball coach at the game said he helped the man cool off inside a truck because it was hot outside.
The coach described the pilot as a 'hero' for managing to crash land the plane away from the baseball field and avoid the kids.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration website, the plane is a single-engine Mooney aircraft that is owned by a local equipment leasing firm.
This story is developing. Visit KENS 5 for more details as they become available.
SAN ANTONIO - A small plane crashed near Stinson Municipal Airport Saturday afternoon, coming down dangerously close to kids' baseball games.
That plane crashed around 2:15 p.m. just west of Stinson.
Witnesses say the plane came down close to baseball fields at Five Diamonds where children's games were going on.
Police say the pilot was alone in the plane and approaching Stinson when he lost power and realized he would not make the runway.
They say he managed to avoid a baseball field and crashed about 50 feet beyond the center field fence.
Police say the plane's pilot did not appear seriously hurt.
EMS transported him to the hospital to be checked out.
The plane crashed on the edge of a brushy area and a creek near S. Flores and Roosevelt.
That's just across the road from Stinson's runways.
Source: http://www.ksat.com
