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NTSB Report
July 23, 1988 · Bellanca 7GCAA · N53784
Pendleton, NY
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 23, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Pendleton, NY
Aircraft
Bellanca 7GCAA
Tail Number
N53784
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC88LA191
THE PILOT OF THE BELLANCA HAD JUST STARTED HIS APPROACH TO PICK UP A BANNER, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO BE RUNNING ROUGH. HE CONTINUED WITH THE BANNER PICKUP. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED, THE ENGINE RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH AND EMITTED BLACK SMOKE. GROUND PERSONNEL INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO RELEASE THE BANNER. THE WITNESS SAID THAT THE PILOT RELEASED THE BANNER AND STARTED A SHALLOW TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DROPPED OUT OF SIGHT BEHIND A LINE OF TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AN EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THERE WAS PLENTY OF FUEL ON BOARD. AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENGINE WAS MADE AFTER SEVERAL DAMAGED COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED; IT STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY UP TO ABOUT 1300 TO 1400 RPM. DUE TO A BENT CRANKSHAFT FLANGE, THE ENGINE WAS NOT CHECKED AT A HIGHER RPM.
NTSB Probable Cause
LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE PILOT HAD HOOKED THE BANNER.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT OF THE BELLANCA HAD JUST STARTED HIS APPROACH TO PICK UP A BANNER, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO BE RUNNING ROUGH. HE CONTINUED WITH THE BANNER PICKUP. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED, THE ENGINE RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH AND EMITTED BLACK SMOKE. GROUND PERSONNEL INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO RELEASE THE BANNER. THE WITNESS SAID THAT THE PILOT RELEASED THE BANNER AND STARTED A SHALLOW TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DROPPED OUT OF SIGHT BEHIND A LINE OF TREES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AN EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THERE WAS PLENTY OF FUEL ON BOARD. AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENGINE WAS MADE AFTER SEVERAL DAMAGED COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED; IT STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY UP TO ABOUT 1300 TO 1400 RPM. DUE TO A BENT CRANKSHAFT FLANGE, THE ENGINE WAS NOT CHECKED AT A HIGHER RPM.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 EDT
Nearest AirportPendleton Airpark (0nm N)
Runway9
Runway Length3800 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBellanca 7GCAA
Tail NumberN53784
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats3
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0