Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Accident Number: WPR15LA209
Date & Time: 07/10/2015, 0900 MST
Registration: N9152V
Aircraft: MOONEY M 20G
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The private pilot receiving instruction reported that, abeam the runway threshold on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he reduced engine power to idle to conduct a practice 180o power-off landing. The pilot maintained glide speed until about 40 ft above the ground then noticed that the airplane was slightly below the intended glide path. The pilot applied throttle to initiate a go-around; however, the engine sputtered and power did not increase. The pilot executed a forced landing short of the runway; the airplane touched down hard and bounced. The right main and nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest to the right of the runway. The flight instructor reported that, upon the pilot's decision to conduct a go-around, he ensured that the throttle, propeller, and mixture were in the correct position, but made no reference to carburetor heat.
During a postaccident examination, the engine was started, operated, and shut down normally with no anomalies noted. Data from the engine monitoring system revealed that, shortly before the engine lost power, it was operating at idle power for about 1 1/2 minutes, during which the cylinder exhaust gas temperatures were decreasing. At the end of the 1 1/2 minutes, in the engine rpm increased and the the exhaust gas temperatures showed a small spike, then continued to decrease. The rpm then decreased to zero, and the manifold pressure adjusted to barometric pressure, consistent with a total loss of power.
The reported temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. It is likely that the carburetor collected ice during the time the engine was at idle power. When the pilot increased power, the engine responded momentarily, but was unable to continue operation with the restricted airflow through the carburetor. The airplane's pilot operating handbook stated that full carburetor heat should be applied when reducing power for descent or landing.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilots' failure to apply carburetor heat during the approach for landing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Findings
Aircraft
Intake anti-ice, deice - Not used/operated (Cause)
Personnel issues
Identification/recognition - Pilot (Cause)
Identification/recognition - Instructor/check pilot (Factor)
Environmental issues
Conducive to carburetor icing - Effect on operation
Factual Information
On July 10, 2015, about 0900 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20G, N9152V, experienced a partial loss of engine power while on short final to the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona, and subsequently landed short of the runway. The private pilot undergoing instruction and the certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained no injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airplane is registered to a private individual and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The private pilot undergoing instruction reported that when they passed the approach end of the runway on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he reduced power to idle to conduct a practice 180o power off landing. The pilot maintained glide speed until about 40 feet above the ground when the pilot observed the airplane was slightly below the intended glide path. The pilot increased power to initiate a go around, however, the engine sputtered and did not increase RPM. The pilot executed a forced landing short of the runway surface; the airplane touched down hard and bounced. When it settled back onto the ground, the right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest to the right of the runway surface.
The CFI reported that when the private pilot decided to conduct a go around, he looked at the throttle quadrant to confirm that the throttle was full forward and the propeller and mixture levers were also positioned correctly.
A postaccident engine run was conducted by a mechanic and inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The spark plugs were removed and examined; they displayed signatures consistent with a rich running engine. The spark plugs were reinstalled and an undamaged propeller was installed. The engine started without hesitation; after idling temporarily, the RPM was increased and a magneto check was completed with no abnormalities noted. The power was decreased to idle for two minutes to simulate a 180o power off landing. The throttle was abruptly increased to full power; it hesitated for a split second and went to full RPM for a couple minutes. This sequence was conducted twice with no anomalies noted. The engine was shutdown uneventfully.
The engine data monitor download showed that shortly before the engine lost power, the engine was at idle for about 1.5 minutes; during which, the cylinder exhaust gas temperatures were decreasing. At the end of the 1.5 minutes, there was an increase in RPM and subsequent small spike in the exhaust gas temperatures before they continued to decrease. In addition, the RPMs continued to zero, and the manifold pressure adjusted to barometric pressure.
At the time of the accident, the reported temperature was 29o C and the dew point was 7o C. According to the FAA carburetor icing Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin, the condition was conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings.
History of Flight
Landing
Fuel related (Defining event)
Landing area undershoot
Hard landing
Landing gear collapse
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 18, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/29/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/25/2015
Flight Time: 253 hours (Total, all aircraft), 140 hours (Total, this make and model), 150 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 60 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 35 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Flight Instructor Information
Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/10/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 01/15/2013
Flight Time: 1 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: MOONEY
Registration: N9152V
Model/Series: M 20G
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1969
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 690012
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/27/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2449 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 60 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2993 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O&VO-360 SER
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: DVT, 1478 ft msl
Observation Time: 0853 MST
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 7°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots, 160°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Phoenix, AZ (DVT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Phoenix, AZ (DVT)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0800 MST
Type of Airspace: Class D
Airport Information
Airport: Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1478 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 7L
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4500 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Go Around; Simulated Forced Landing; Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.686389, -112.076111 (est)
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 10, 2015 in Phoenix, AZ
Aircraft: MOONEY M 20G, registration: N9152V
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
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. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On July 10, 2015, about 0900 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20G, N9152V, experienced a partial loss of engine power while on short final to the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona, and subsequently landed short of the runway. The private pilot undergoing instruction and the certified flight instructor sustained no injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airplane is registered to a private individual and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The private pilot undergoing instruction reported that he was conducting a practice power off 180-degree landing. When the airplane was about 30 feet above the ground he realized that he was going to land short of the runway. He added power, but the airplane's engine sputtered and would not increase RPM. He kept the wings level and landed on the rocks just short of the runway. The airplane traversed onto the runway surface when the right landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on the side of the runway.
The airplane has been recovered to a secure location for further examination.
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