Accident Mooney M20K N97429, Monday 24 January 1983

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Date:	Monday 24 January 1983
Time:	10:00 LT
Type:	Mooney M20K
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N97429
MSN:	25-0512
Year of manufacture:	1981
Total airframe hrs:	332 hours
Engine model:	Continental TSIO-360-GB1
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Dufur, OR - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Salem, OK (KSLE)
Destination airport:	Pasco, WA (KPSC)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH AN IRRIGATION PIPE LINE AND FENCE DURING ROLLOUT OF A FORCED LANDING AFTER ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS CRUISING EN ROUTE. THE PILOT REMAINED IN RADIO CONTACT THROUGHOUT THE EMERGENCY AND LANDED IN A FIELD OF GRAIN STUBBLE AND NEW CROPS. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED A HOLE IN THE #4 PISTON. THIS HOLE HAD PRESSURIZED THE CRANKCASE FORCING OIL OUT OF THE BREATHER UNTIL OIL DEPLETION CAUSED ENGINE STOPPAGE. ALSO, A TRACE OF CARBON TRACKING WAS FOUND ON THE RIGHT DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK FROM THE #4 LOCATION TO ANOTHER STATIONARY ELECTRODE.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: