Mooney M20J N201DK

Summary

On 13 July 2000 at about 21:15 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N201DK, operated by Wings of Denver, was involved in an accident near Espanola, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 July 2000 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Espanola, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

36.0007, -106.0594

Aircraft

Mooney M20J

Registration

N201DK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wings of Denver

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Los Alamos → Broomfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00LA143

Nobody was injured.

The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. A factor was a complete loss of power due to mechanical failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During climb following takeoff the engine oil pressure went to 0 and the oil temperature increased. The pilot reduced power, and looked for an emergency landing site in the rough mountainous terrain he was over flying. When the engine began to vibrate, the pilot secured the engine and made an emergency landing in a field with an uneven surface. During landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed causing damage to the engine firewall. Examination of the engine revealed the number 3 connecting rod bearing had failed due to oil starvation followed by failure of the number 3 connecting rod. The number I connecting rod bearing had also failed due to reduced lubrication. The engine contained 7 quarts of aviation grade lubricating oil and the oil pump and internal oil distribution system were open and functioned in a normal fashion. The correct parts were verified.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.