Accident Mooney M20F N6318Q, Tuesday 2 March 1982

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Date:	Tuesday 2 March 1982
Time:	18:00 LT
Type:	Mooney M20F
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N6318Q
MSN:	670411
Total airframe hrs:	1884 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-360-A1A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Belton, KY - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Greenville, KY
Destination airport:	Bowling Green, KY
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
AFTER LEVELING AT 2500 FT, OIL FUMES WERE NOTED, BUT NO ABNORMAL INDICATIONS WERE NOTED ON THE ENGINE GAUGES. THE PILOT SUSPECTED OIL HAD BEEN SPILLED DURING A REPAIR BEFORE TAKEOFF. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO INCREASE & WAS ADJUSTED BY THE PILOT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENGINE FAILED. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH A ROAD & LANDED IN A FIELD. THE MAIN GEAR FAILED AFTER HITTING A DITCH. THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED AFTER CONTACTING THE GROUND & THE LEFT WING HIT A FENCE. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THERE WAS OIL ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. A HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE CASE BETWEEN THE NUMBER 2 & 4 CYLINDERS. THE INLET OIL LINE TO THE OIL COOLER HAD CHAFED AGAINST THE EXHAUST STACK & WAS LEAKING. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ROUTED UNDER A HEAT SHIELD & AWAY FROM THE EXHAUST STACK. THE OIL LINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STANDARD, MEDIUM PRESSURE, STRATOFLEX HOSE (MIL-H-8794D) REINFORCED WITH A FIBER BRAIDS & A STEEL BRAID. THE INSTALLED HOSE HAD A SINGLE FIBER BRAID COVERING.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: