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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 9, 1984 · Bellanca 8GCBC · N4167Y

Houston, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 9, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Houston, TX
Aircraft
Bellanca 8GCBC
Tail Number
N4167Y
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW84FA193

WITNESSES HEARD THE SOUND OF AN ACFT WITH THE ENG AT HIGH RPM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THEY SAW THE ACFT IN A LEFT SPIN WITH THE ENG REMAINING AT FULL POWER. THE ACFT CONTINUED SPINNING UNTIL IT CRASHED & BURNED. THE WITNESSES NOTICED THAT WHEN THE PLANE WAS DESCENDING ABOUT 3 FT OF THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE LEFT WING HAD FAILED, BUT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE ACFT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE VERIFIED THAT THE LEFT WING TIP HAD FAILED PRIOR TO IMPACT. FIRE DAMAGE WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT THE MODE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT WING TIP HAD FAILED UPWARD & AFT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN BLOWN INVERTED ON 11/23/83 BY STRONG WINDS. AT THAT TIME, THE LEFT WING TIP WAS BROKEN & A WING RIB WAS CRUSHED; ALSO, THE RUDDER, VERT STABILIZER, PROP & RIGHT WING STRUT WERE DAMAGED. NO ENTRIES HAD BEEN MADE IN THE ACFT LOGBOOKS SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 8/15/83. THE EXTENT OF THE REPAIRS FROM THE WIND DAMAGE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES HEARD THE SOUND OF AN ACFT WITH THE ENG AT HIGH RPM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THEY SAW THE ACFT IN A LEFT SPIN WITH THE ENG REMAINING AT FULL POWER. THE ACFT CONTINUED SPINNING UNTIL IT CRASHED & BURNED. THE WITNESSES NOTICED THAT WHEN THE PLANE WAS DESCENDING ABOUT 3 FT OF THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE LEFT WING HAD FAILED, BUT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE ACFT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE VERIFIED THAT THE LEFT WING TIP HAD FAILED PRIOR TO IMPACT. FIRE DAMAGE WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT THE MODE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT WING TIP HAD FAILED UPWARD & AFT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN BLOWN INVERTED ON 11/23/83 BY STRONG WINDS. AT THAT TIME, THE LEFT WING TIP WAS BROKEN & A WING RIB WAS CRUSHED; ALSO, THE RUDDER, VERT STABILIZER, PROP & RIGHT WING STRUT WERE DAMAGED. NO ENTRIES HAD BEEN MADE IN THE ACFT LOGBOOKS SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 8/15/83. THE EXTENT OF THE REPAIRS FROM THE WIND DAMAGE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:28 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftBellanca 8GCBC
Tail NumberN4167Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-C2E · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 9 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data