Mooney M20B N74520
7 January 1990 · Santa Ana, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 7 January 1990 at about 01:02 local time, a Mooney M20B registered N74520, operated by Robley D. MC Cants, was involved in an accident near Santa Ana, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:02
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Santa Ana, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- John Wayne (SNA)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20B
- Registration
- N74520
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Robley D. MC Cants
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX90LA066
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF BOLTS RETAINING THE IDLER SHAFT ALLOWING THE CAM SHIFT TIMING TO CHANGE AND BY ITS FAILURE TO DRIVE THE LEFT MAGNETO.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ENGINE ON A MOONEY M20B FAILED WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE BOLTS RETAINING THE IDLER SHAFT HAD SHEARED ALLOWING A CHANGE IN THE INTERNAL TIMING AND FAILURE TO DRIVE THE LEFT MAGNETO. BOTH BOLT HEADS, THE LOCKPLATE, AND THE COTTER KEYS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL SUMP. THE IGNITION SPRINGS ON THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS HAD EVIDENCE OF ARCING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Mooney M20B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 1990 | Mooney M20B | Glenwood Spring, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Aug 1990 | Mooney M20B | Winfield, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1993 | Mooney M20B | Santa Paula, California, United States | Hellner, John F. | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1987 | Mooney M20B | Marlboro, New Jersey, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1993 | Mooney M20B | Bethpage, Tennessee, United States | Quearry, Carlos G. | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Aug 1993 | Mooney M20B | Landover, Maryland, United States | Thomas N Thompson | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 1990 | Cessna 180 | Soledad, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 1990 | Cessna 150 | Riverside, California, United States | PAR Flight | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1990 | Piper PA46 | Paso Robles, California, United States | Piper Aircraft Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 1990 | Cessna 182M | Bakersfield, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1990 | Piper J-3 | Creston, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1990 | Bell 47G4 | Merced, California, United States | John W. Myers | Serious injuries | - |