Location: Tampa, Florida
Accident Number: ERA22LA064
Date and Time: November 15, 2021, 10:12 Local
Registration: N21890
Aircraft: Mooney M20M
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On November 15, 2021, about 1012 eastern standard time, a Mooney M20M, N21890, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot stated that he had operated the airplane earlier that day on an uneventful 15-minute flight. After departure on a second flight from Peter O Knight Airport (TPF), Tampa, Florida, the airplane climbed to between 2,000 and 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and the pilot noticed a very high turbine inlet temperature (TIT) reading. At the same time, he noticed liquid on the bottom portion of the
windshield. He confirmed that the engine mixture control was full rich and reduced engine power, which decreased the TIT reading, but there was still liquid on the windshield. He diverted to TPF, entered the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, and lowered the landing gear. While on the downwind leg the fuel pressure was 34 psi which was a normal reading. He turned onto the base leg of the traffic pattern and while at 1,200 ft msl before turning onto final approach he added power, but the engine did not respond. He pushed the mixture, propeller, and throttle controls full forward. He noted the propeller was windmilling and subsequently ditched the airplane in Tampa Bay.
The airplane was recovered the same day and initial examination of the engine did not reveal any internal engine failures. The fuel lines in the engine compartment were all hand-tight except for the inlet fuel line at manifold valve which was loose. There was no provision for safety wiring the b-nut and there was no torque stripe on the b-nut or inlet fitting. Pressure testing of the fuel supply system using a 12-volt auxiliary fuel pump and a portable fuel tank that was plumbed into the left-wing root revealed that with the mixture control full rich, the throttle out slightly, and the b-nut at the manifold valve in the as-found position, fuel leaked at the b-nut of the loose fuel hose. After the fuel line was tightened, no leakage was noted at the b-nut. In addition, inspection of the threads of the fitting and the hose, and of the fitting and b-nut revealed no discrepancies.
The airplane was equipped with an engine data monitor, which was removed and retained for download.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Mooney
Registration: N21890
Model/Series: M20M NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
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: KTPF, 8 ft msl
Observation Time: 10:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C /6°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 20°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 10000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.22 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Lakeland, FL (LAL)
Destination: Gainesville, FL (GNV)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 27.903517,-82.455067