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.
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Farmingdale, New York
N52840 LLC
Location: Farmingdale, NY
Accident Number: ERA20LA082
Date & Time: December 28, 2019, 16:15 Local
Registration: N52840
Aircraft: Mooney M20J
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On December 28, 2019, about 1615 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20J, N52840, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Farmingdale, New York. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane operated Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to the pilot, he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane about 1200 with no anomalies noted and departed Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York for a flight to Francis S Gabreski Airport (FOK), Westhampton Beach, New York. He remained on the ground at FOK until about 1540, when he departed for the return flight to FRG. He stated that during approach to FRG the airport traffic pattern was congested, and air traffic control requested he enter right traffic for runway 1. The controller then asked him to extend his approach over the south shore of Long Island before turning him back to the airport. On about a 3-mile final approach to the runway, the controller asked the pilot make S turns for separation from the airplane in front of him. At an altitude of about 600 ft, the engine lost total power. The pilot responded by first switching the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank, then tried to restart the engine before impacting terrain about ½-mile from runway 1 at FRG.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident. During the examination the inspector disconnected multiple fuel lines to check for the presence of fuel. A small amount of residual fuel was present in the fuel manifold supply and the return lines from the fuel control to the fuel pump. All other lines were absent of fuel, including the fuel supply line from the airframe to the fuel pump. The right fuel tank was visually inspected about 1 inch of fuel in the tank, the left tank was damaged during the accident and found empty.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Mooney
Registration: N52840
Model/Series: M20J
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: FRG,81 ft msl
Observation Time: 15:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C /1°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 320°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Westhampton Beach, NY (FOK)
Destination: Farmingdale, NY (FRG)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 40.713054,-73.411941 (est)
Unported on low fuel during S-turns, maybe?
ReplyDeleteMaybe just flat out ran out of gas.
ReplyDelete