Aviation Accident Summary ATL92LA052

CHARLESTON, SC, USA

Aircraft #1

N6748U

MOONEY M20C

Analysis

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE FUEL TANKS, AFTER HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN LOST POWER AGAIN. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A GROUP OF SMALL TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE FOURTH FULL. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT WING TANK FUEL VENT WAS BLOCKED BY NESTING DIRT DAUBERS, AND AIR COULD NOT BE FORCED THROUGH THE VENT.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE BLOCKED FUEL VENT.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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