Mooney Issues

Pilot disconnected the (S-Tec 50) autopilot and hand-flew for several minutes. Shortly after initiating a descent to land, the ailerons began to seize. It took five to 10 seconds to lose aileron authority, followed by elevator authority. Pilot forced to make emergency landing with only a few degrees of operable aileron and elevator, but landed without damage or injury. Examination revealed the autopilot had re-engaged and the servo clutches had frozen.

Editorial Staff

Monday, June 25, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Control system malfunctions included an autopilot re-engaging and seizing control surfaces, and a jammed trim-assist bungee causing an elevator to stick during preflight.
Engine-related mechanical issues involved mismanufactured engine mounts leading to misalignment and loose bolts, as well as broken cylinder studs and intake tube problems.
Electrical system failures highlighted a recurring issue where a faulty alternator repeatedly caused voltage regulator failures, even after replacement.

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Mooney M20C
Malfunctioning Autopilot

Pilot disconnected the (S-Tec 50) autopilot and hand-flew for several minutes. Shortly after initiating a descent to land, the ailerons began to “seize.” It took five to 10 seconds to lose aileron authority, followed by elevator authority. Pilot forced to make emergency landing with only a few degrees of operable aileron and elevator, but landed without damage or injury. Examination revealed the autopilot had re-engaged and the servo clutches had frozen.