Mooney M20J N4826H

Summary

On 6 April 2015 at about 16:56 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N4826H, operated by PRO International Inc, was involved in an accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania, 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

6 April 2015 at 16:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Queen City (XLL)

Coordinates

40.5703, -75.4883

Aircraft

Mooney M20J

Registration

N4826H

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

PRO International Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Allentown → Allentown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA177

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power during takeoff due to an interruption of fuel flow to the engine. The reason for the interruption of the fuel flow could not be determined during postaccident examination and testing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he departed with about 25 gallons of fuel in the left wing fuel tank and about 7 or 8 gallons in the right wing fuel tank and with the fuel selector positioned to the left wing fuel tank. After departure, he flew the airplane to a local airport to practice takeoffs and landings. During the fourth takeoff, about 30 minutes into the flight, and when the airplane was about 400 to 500 ft above the runway, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot made a forced landing straight ahead, and the airplane struck a fence. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wings were damaged, but no fuel was observed leaking from the airplane. About 4 to 5 gallons of fuel was found in the right tank, and about 8 to 12 gallons of fuel was found in the left tank; the fuel found in the tanks was higher than the unusable fuel limit for each tank. The fuel line from the engine-driven fuel pump to the fuel servo was disassembled, and there was no fuel in the line. The fuel line from the boost pump to the engine-driven fuel pump was disconnected, and, when the boost pump was turned, fuel came out in a pulsating spray, which indicates that air was in the line. Based on the evidence, it is likely that there was an interruption of fuel flow to the engine, which resulted in the loss of power; however, the reason for the interruption of the fuel flow could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.