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August 18, 1999 · Bellanca 17-30A · N4148B

Albuquerque, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Aircraft
Bellanca 17-30A
Tail Number
N4148B
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN99LA151

While on a positioning flight from one local airport to another, the aircraft developed an electrical discrepancy and the pilot elected to shut down the electrical system via the master switch. During the subsequent precautionary landing, the electrically actuated hydraulically operated landing gear remained up despite the pilot's activation of the landing gear switch to the gear down position. The aircraft slid to a stop following the gear up landing and was destroyed by post landing fire. The pilot exited the aircraft and was not injured.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to follow published procedures in operating the aircraft. A factor was partial failure of the electrical system.

Full Narrative

On August 18, 1999, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N4148B, was destroyed by fire following a wheels up landing at Albuquerque International Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ). The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was a positioning flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Coronado Airport in Albuquerque, at 0745. According to the pilot, he had an electrical failure following his departure from Coronado Airport, which is approximately 15 miles north of Albuquerque International Airport. He said that prior to shutting down the electrical system via the master switch to conserve the battery, he received clearance from ABQ to land on runway 08 while on final approach. The pilot related that he secured the electrical master switch and lowered the landing gear switch. He said that since the electrical master switch was off he could not confirm the landing gear was down via the landing gear position indicator, and landed with the landing gear in the retracted position. Information supplied by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who went to the scene, provided information that the aircraft slid to a stop to the west of runway 8 and a post landing fire destroyed the aircraft after the pilot exited. The aircraft information and operations manual provides information that the landing gear switch allows the pilot to raise and lower the landing gear through an electrically actuated hydraulically operated system. In the event of a total electrical failure, the landing gear can be lowered by manually relieving the hydraulic pressure and allowing the landing gear to free fall to the down and locked position. Without electrical power, the landing gear switch is inert.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 MDT
Nearest AirportAlbuquerque International (0nm)
Runway8
Runway Length13775 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBellanca 17-30A
Tail NumberN4148B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 65 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time14:21
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data