N2953LMooney M20C · 1967

On April 3, 2021, about 1248 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N2953L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near College Park, Maryland. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot stated that he intended to perform a recreational flight lasting 2 hours or less and during his preflight inspection he found, “a bunch of water” in the left fuel tank, which was he sampled five times before he got all the water out of it. He then dried his collection tube and sampled it twice more reporting the sample was clear with no water. He did not drain the selector valve sump drain as part of his inspection. The pilot selected the left fuel tank for takeoff and performed an engine run-up before departure, noting the only discrepancy was related to the auxiliary fuel pump, which was left off for takeoff. During takeoff he rotated at 83 mph and when over the runway the engine began to “cough/sputter.” He looked to his left but continued straight ahead. The next thing he remembered was hearing a loud sound from ground contact. The airplane came to rest upright near the departure end of the runway.

A pilot-rated witness at the airport reported the engine was “really running rough” when the airplane was still on the ground about ½ way down the runway. He clarified that the engine was rapidly losing power, running rough, and surging to higher rpm. He then noticed the elevator made a nose-up deflection after the abnormal engine sound occurred.

A video of the accident flight provided by the airport manager depicted the airplane over the runway in a slight nose up attitude less than a wingspan high. The main landing gear were extended. The airplane continued over the runway gaining altitude slightly. The airplane then began to descend and while at an altitude less than a wingspan above the runway, the left wing dropped. The airplane descended in a nose low attitude with the left wing impacting the runway. The airplane then rotated clockwise coming to rest upright.

Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Following recovery of the airplane from the runway, 8 ounces of water were drained from the left fuel tank, and water was detected in the flexible fuel hose from the firewall fitting to the engine-driven fuel pump inlet. Additionally, about 5 ounces of fluid containing equal parts of fuel and water were drained from the carburetor bowl.

An on-wing pressure check of the fuel caps performed using a maintenance procedure for later models of the airplane revealed large bubbles around the outer perimeter of the left fuel cap and small bubbles on the aft side of the right fuel cap near the lever; no bubbles were noted around the axle for either fuel cap. The outer perimeter of both fuel tank access panels were tested and no leaks were noted. The fuel caps were then sent to the manufacturer’s facility for testing.

Examination of the fuel caps at the manufacturer’s facility revealed both had loose handles and exhibited very little resistance and no audible snap when the handle was closed and locked. Testing of the left fuel cap could not be completed because of the extensive leakage, while the right fuel cap failed the pressure testing. Both caps were completely disassembled revealing both contained unapproved, modified, and/or missing parts. Both fuel caps were re-assembled with new hardware as required and passed the acceptance testing which included pressure testing to 25 psig. The fuel caps were returned to the salvage facility to repeat the on-wing testing, which revealed leaks from both caps.

Each wing plate with attached doubler, adapter, and fuel cap were then sent to the fuel cap manufacturer’s facility for further testing to determine the source of the leakage. Following manufacturing of a fixture, no leakage was noted between either fuel cap and its mating adapter, but leakage was noted between the adapter and the doubler of each assembly at low pressures (.45 psi and .28 psi) which increased in intensity as the pressure increased.

Postaccident examination of the fuel tanks in accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin M20-230 revealed no anomalies; all drain holes were open. Additionally, the fuel tank drain valves were correct. Thus, there was no capability for trapped water.

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 85-24-03, with an effective date of January 6, 1986, applicable to the accident make and model airplane required in part an inspection of the fuel tank bays and ribs, but only a visual inspection of the fuel caps in accordance with Mooney Service Bulletin (SB) M20-229, dated February 12, 1986. Service Bulletin M20-229A specified not only a visual inspection of the fuel caps but also pressure testing of them by applying .5 psi to the fuel vent line and check for leaks around the fuel cap.

The mechanic who performed the airplane’s last annual inspection in July 2020 stated that he did comply with AD 85-24-03, and as part of his compliance he applied a window cleaning solution to the top of the wing in the fuel cap area and blew into the vent tube by mouth pressure then looked for bubbles; no bubbles were noted.

One co-owner stated that on February 4, 2021, he and the other co-owner replaced the o-rings of each fuel cap as part of preventative maintenance because of water in the fuel tanks. He reported their maintenance actions to the fuel caps seemed to diminish the water infiltration during rain events. An additional measure to reduce water infiltration into the fuel tanks was to install covers over the wings when the airplane was on the ramp, but they did not entirely stop the water infiltration and those covers were off when the pilot arrived at the airplane for his intended flight. The mechanic who serviced the airplane was not contacted by the owners regarding the fuel tank water issues.

A review of the NTSB database for accidents and incidents of Mooney airplanes from 1982 to June 15, 2021, revealed a total of 1,351 investigations, which included foreign investigations. From 1982 to January 6, 1986 (effective date of AD 85-24-03), there were a total of 228 investigations, of which cases with the probable cause published, 4 cited water contamination. From January 6, 1986 (effective date of AD 85-24-03) through June 15, 2021, there were 1,123 investigations, of which cases with the probable cause published, 24 cited water contamination.