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June 25, 2017 · Bellanca 17 30 A · N14728

Grove, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 25, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Grove, OK
Aircraft
Bellanca 17 30 A (1974)
Tail Number
N14728
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN17LA242

The private pilot and his passenger were landing at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. During the right turn from the base leg to the final leg of the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost partial power. The pilot attempted to restore power by switching from the right fuel tank to the auxiliary fuel tank, but engine power was not restored. The airplane was substantially damaged during the subsequent forced landing to a field. A postaccident examination revealed that the right fuel tank had at least 5 gallons of fuel remaining, 4 gallons of which were unusable. The left fuel tank contained 5 gallons of fuel, and the auxiliary fuel tank was full, containing 15 gallons of fuel. An examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the loss of engine power could not be duplicated during an engine test run. Given the low fuel state of the right wing, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation as the fuel unported during the right turn.

NTSB Probable Cause

An unporting of fuel in the right wing while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Full Narrative

On June 25, 2017, about 1400 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A airplane, N14728, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field 1/2 mile south of the Grove Municipal Airport (KGMJ), Grove, Oklahoma. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight had departed Bollinger-Crass Memorial Airport (MO5), Van Buren, Missouri, about 1230, and was en route to KGMJ. According to the written statement submitted by the pilot, while en route at an altitude of 8,500 ft mean sea level, he leaned the fuel mixture and the engine started running rough with a partial loss of power and a "miss-fire." The pilot enrichened the fuel mixture and switched fuel tanks, and the rough-running engine cleared up. The flight continued without incident until the pilot was maneuvering for landing. While in a right turn from the base leg to the final leg, the engine lost partial power. The pilot switched from the right fuel tank to the auxiliary fuel tank but was unable to restore all the engine power. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, both the left and right wing spars were substantially damaged during the forced landing. A post-accident examination of the fuel tanks reveled 5.75 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank and 15 gallons of fuel (full) in the auxiliary fuel tank. There was visible fuel in the left tank, but it was not measured. The airplane was recovered from the accident site for further examination and testing. According to the airframe and powerplant mechanic who assisted with the investigation, 5 gallons of fuel were drained from the right tank, 5 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank, and the auxiliary fuel tank was full. There was no evidence of fuel leaks around either fuel cap and the fuel screens were free of contamination. Additional fuel was added to the fuel tanks, the engine started without hesitation, and ran for 25 minutes at varying power settings. After the engine warmed up to normal operating temperatures, the mechanic cycled through all three fuel tanks, spending no less than 5 minutes on each tank. A check of both magnetos and the mixture control revealed no anomalies. The loss of engine power and engine roughness could not be duplicated. The airplane was equipped with a 34-gallon left and a 34-gallon right main fuel tank and a 15-gallon auxiliary tank. According to both the placards on the fuel filler caps and the Pilot Operating Handbook, 4 gallons on each side was unusable.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 CDT
Nearest AirportGrove Municipal Airport (0nm S)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBellanca 17 30 A
Tail NumberN14728
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTeledyne Continental · IO 520 K · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter30.26 inHg
Observation Time18:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data