On December 31, 1998, a Mooney M20E (registration N333WS) was involved in an aviation accident near Tryon, NE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: other maintenance personnel's not correcting a loose cylinder assembly. Factors were loose engine cylinder assembly, fractured cylinder mounting hardware, the roadway, and road sign. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During cruise, the engine lost power, prompting a forced landing on a road due to terrain. The landing was successful, but during rollout the right wing struck a sign, causing the aircraft to rotate into a ditch. Post-accident examination revealed a loose #3 cylinder and six fractured cylinder base studs.
Incident Overview
While in cruise flight, the engine began to lose power. The pilot chose to perform a forced landing on a roadway, as the surrounding terrain was rough and hilly. The landing itself was successful, but during the rollout phase, the right wing impacted a sign. This impact caused the aircraft to rotate and subsequently enter a ditch.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, an examination of the airplane engine was conducted. The examination found that the #3 cylinder was loose and that six cylinder base studs were fractured. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated a total of 1,100 hours in service, with 31 hours since its last inspection.
