At about 15:46 eastern time, a Mooney M20C lost engine power after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and struck a car and bus as it landed on a city street. The CFI and private-rated student pilot suffered minor injuries. As the airplane took off and the pilot turned off the electric boost pump, the engine lost power. The pilot turned the pump back on but power was not restored. The engine was reportedly running smoothly but at reduced power. Post-accident examination showed one side of the bail wire that secures the gascolator bowl was found improperly positioned. The throttle lever with throttle cable attached was found separated from the carburetor, and there was no evidence of safety wire in the hole of the securing screw of the throttle lever or on the lever.
August 07, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Mooney M20C
At about 15:46 eastern time, a Mooney M20C lost engine power after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and struck a car and bus as it landed on a city street. The CFI and private-rated student pilot suffered minor injuries. As the airplane took off and the pilot turned off the electric boost pump, the engine lost power. The pilot turned the pump back on but power was not restored. The engine was reportedly running smoothly but at reduced power. Post-accident examination showed one side of the bail wire that secures the gascolator bowl was found improperly positioned. The throttle lever with throttle cable attached was found separated from the carburetor, and there was no evidence...
Key Takeaways:
- A Mooney M20C experienced engine power loss shortly after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale, resulting in an emergency landing on a city street where it struck a car and bus.
- The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot onboard suffered only minor injuries.
- Engine power was lost after the electric boost pump was turned off, and was not fully restored when reactivated, though the engine ran at reduced power.
- Post-accident findings included an improperly positioned gascolator bail wire and a throttle lever separated from the carburetor due to the absence of safety wire.
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