On March 20, 2005, a Mooney M20F (registration XB-FRU) was involved in an aviation accident near Norwood, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the reported partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During descent, the engine began losing power. The pilot declared an emergency and performed a forced landing. The nose gear collapsed and the left wing was damaged. Engine inspection revealed no anomalies; the cause of power loss remains undetermined.
Incident Overview
While descending, the airplane's engine began to misfire and subsequently lost power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and declared an emergency. A forced landing was executed in a field. During the landing rollout, the nose landing gear collapsed and the outboard four feet of the left wing sustained upward bending damage.
Post-Incident Examination
An examination of the engine was conducted following the incident. No anomalies were found that would have precluded normal engine operation. The reason for the reported partial loss of engine power was not determined.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the engine experienced a partial loss of power during descent, necessitating the forced landing. The structural damage to the nose gear and left wing occurred during the landing. Despite thorough inspection, no mechanical or operational cause for the power loss could be identified.