Mooney M20J accident near Norwood, Massachusetts, April 24, 2006
On April 24, 2006 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201BD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norwood, Massachusetts (Norwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper maintenance, which resulted in a fatigue fracture of the dual magneto mounting flange, and a subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2006 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Norwood, Massachusetts · Norwood
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201BD · registry record · serial 24-0612
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Mooney M20J accelerated and lifted off normally from the runway; however, during the initial climb after takeoff, it experienced a significant loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a golf course adjacent to the airport. The airplane came to rest upright; however, the engine was torn away from the firewall, and the airframe was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed that the Bendix single drive, dual magneto mounting flange was fatigue fractured, consistent with inadequate torque on the mounting nuts. The airplane had been operated for about 275 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about a year prior to the accident. The logbook entry for the annual inspection specifically included maintenance performed on the magneto.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,601 hours in all; 323 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,526 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,530 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 275 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OWD Norwood MA at 12:20 pm
- Destination: N51 Readington NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 4,008 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 12:24 pm from OWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.