Date: 201605
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: FBO
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: CTAF ZZZ
Aircraft component: Engine
Reporter organization: FBO
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Trainee
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Confusion
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Instructor
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Myself and my instructor departed on a training flight in Mooney M20; complex airplane single engine land for training flight. There were two souls on board including instructor. After conducting a thorough preflight; we estimated the right fuel tank to be full of fuel and the left tank to be low on fuel which we visually checked against the fuel gauges. Before starting the engine we set the fuel selector valve to the right tank which was full. The taxi; run up and the first traffic pattern went on to be normal. Upon taking off for the next traffic pattern we lifted off the runway and retracted the landing gear once we attained positive rate of climb. Upon reaching 2900 MSL and before we turned crosswind the engine began to lose RPM and started to splutter and choke; it ran normal the next second and began making the same noise again. Immediately my instructor took over the controls and immediately turned back to the airfield. As soon [as] we turned the engine quit completely; as we were approximately 400 Feet AGL and we couldn't make it to the runway; my instructor obtained best glide speed; selected roadway adjacent to the airport; proceeded to land. We were unable to do the emergency checklist as we didn't have much time to do so. I sat back and remained calm and was monitoring the airspeed throughout the emergency landing. My instructor landed the aircraft safely. We didn't have any visible damage to the aircraft except for a small crack on the leading edge of the right wing. Upon immediate initial investigation it was found that left fuel tank was empty and caused the engine to quit due to fuel starvation. We figured out that the fuel selector valve was set to left tank. The fuel selector was set improperly due to the confusion in the orientation of the selector knob among both the instructor and the pilot {myself} on board. My instructor then familiarized me how to set the fuel selector valve.


Second narrative: Corrective measures have been taken and both the student and the instructor flying have been familiarized with the orientation and positioning of the fuel selector valve for proper use during future flight. Also; measures have been implemented to ensure that the students and instructors check that the fuel in both tanks is evenly distributed before taxi and takeoff. It has been found that the primary cause of the incident was improper fuel management by the pilots onboard. However; it has been established that the decision to land the airplane was commendable as there were no injuries or visible damage to the aircraft in spite of landing with a failed engine. Better usage of emergency checklists onboard has been discussed.


Synopsis: A flight instructor and private pilot reported a loss of engine power after takeoff in a M20; resulting in an off-field landing. Reportedly the fuel selector was inadvertently placed in position for the tank with minimal fuel.