Compare
Mooney M20C vs Mooney M20J
The two side by side, from the FAA registry, the FAA's Airworthiness Directives and Service Difficulty Reports, and the NTSB's accident database. Each has a full guide: Mooney M20C, Mooney M20J.
Where they differ
- The Mooney M20J fleet is younger: half of those registered were built by 1980, against 1965 for the Mooney M20C.
- Most Mooney M20Cs have the Lycoming O-360; most Mooney M20Js the Lycoming IO-360.
- Mechanics report the Mooney M20C's fuselage, landing gear attach fittings most, and the Mooney M20J's reciprocating engine cylinder section.
Side by side
| Mooney M20C | Mooney M20J | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered in the US | 1,237 | 1,398 |
| Built | 1961 to 1977 | 1976 to 1998 |
| Half built by | 1965 | 1980 |
| Seats | 4 | 4 |
| Most common engine | Lycoming O-360 | Lycoming IO-360 |
| Typical cruise fuel burn | Not set | 9.5 gal/hr |
| Engine overhaul intervalThe engine maker's published hours between overhauls. | 2,000 hr | Not set |
| Current airframe ADs | 15 | 18 |
| Airframe ADs with a repeat action | 2 | 2 |
| Current ADs on the main engine | 24 | 29 |
| Service Difficulty ReportsSince the year shown in each guide; per 1,000 registered today. | 5 (4.0 per 1,000) | 13 (9.3 per 1,000) |
| Most-reported system | Fuselage, Landing Gear Attach Fittings | Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section |
| Accidents since 2008Per 1,000 registered today, not per hour flown: a training fleet flies far more than a private one. | 63 (50.9 per 1,000) | 96 (68.7 per 1,000) |
| Fatal accidents since 2008 | 21 | 32 |
| Most common accident | Loss of engine power (total) | Loss of engine power (total) |
Report and accident counts are not rates: nobody publishes the hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Fuel burn is a typical cruise figure; the engine interval is its maker's published figure for the usual engine.
The Mooney M20C's repeat-action ADs
- 2023-02-04Requires inspecting to determine whether a certain elevator balance weight is installed
- 98-24-11Requires inspecting the aileron control links for the installation of a reinforcing gusset; and, if no gusset is installed, repetitively inspecting the aileron control links (left-hand and right-hand) for cracks
The Mooney M20J's repeat-action ADs
- 98-24-11Requires inspecting the aileron control links for the installation of a reinforcing gusset; and, if no gusset is installed, repetitively inspecting the aileron control links (left-hand and right-hand) for cracks
- 95-26-16 R1Requires repetitively inspecting the alternate air door assembly to ensure a cotter pin exists and is secure, and replacing the cotter pin if it does not exist or is not secure
Questions
- Which has more Airworthiness Directives, the Mooney M20C or the Mooney M20J?
- 15 current ADs name the Mooney M20C airframe and 18 the Mooney M20J; 2 and 2 of them have a repeat action.
- Which is newer, the Mooney M20C or the Mooney M20J?
- Half of the Mooney M20Cs registered were built by 1965, half of the Mooney M20Js by 1980.
- How do the Mooney M20C and Mooney M20J accident records compare?
- 63 accidents since 2008 for the Mooney M20C (21 fatal) against 96 for the Mooney M20J (32 fatal), from fleets of 1,237 and 1,398. Counts, not rates per hour flown.