Mooney M20M N7775L

Summary

On 27 November 2001 at about 21:13 local time, a Mooney M20M registered N7775L, operated by Grant Scott, was involved in an accident near Evansville, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 November 2001 at 21:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Evansville, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Evansville Regional (EVV)

Coordinates

38.0372, -87.5306

Aircraft

Mooney M20M

Registration

N7775L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Grant Scott

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Evansville → Indianapolis

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI02FA042

2 people died.

The fatigue failure of the turbocharger exhaust band clamp and aircraft control not possible by the pilot due to the fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The personal flight impacted terrain in a residential neighborhood about one mile north of the departure airport while executing an emergency return to the airport. The airplane impacted a wooded area in a 20-degree nose down trajectory and came to rest about 142 feet from the initial impact point. The pilot reported smoke in the cockpit 55 seconds after takeoff which was then followed by a report of a fire 32 seconds later. A witness reported seeing gray and black smoke trailing from the right side of the exhaust area. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the turbocharger exhaust V-band clamp was separated through the band. Metallurgical examination indicated that the separation was consistent with a fatigue fracture. According to maintenance records, the V-band clamp was installed in 1990 in response to a service letter (SL). An airworthiness directive (AD) was then issued in 1991 requiring the replacement of the V-band clamp with one which was of the same part number as called for by the SL. The V-band clamp found in the wreckage of the accident airplane was of the same part number required by the SL and AD. The airplane received an annual inspection 25 days prior to the accident at which time the V-band clamp would have accumulated a total time in service of 1,402 hours. Engine overhauls and exhaust system related maintenance has necessitated the clamp's repeated removal and installation since its original installation. According to the airplane emergency procedures for smoke/fire, the master switch and fuel selector valve are to be selected to the off positions. Radio transmissions by the flight continued after the initial report of smoke. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector valve was selected to the right fuel tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.