Mooney M20R N20835 accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane sank in the ocean and was not recovered.

NTSB analysis

During initial climb from a coastal airport for the personal flight, when the airplane was about 300 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. The private pilot ditched the airplane in the ocean near the shore. The pilot was rescued, but the airplane sank and was not recovered. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed about 7 months before the accident. The airplane's engine was overhauled about 6 months before the accident and had accrued 138 hours of operation from the time of overhaul until the accident. During that time, the oil had been changed and the filter element inspected three times with no abnormalities noted. Because the airplane was not recovered from the ocean and could not be examined, the reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA17LA175 for the full record.