Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking, N6648V: Accident occurred September 13, 2014 in Monroe, Georgia

NTSB Identification: ERA14LA436
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 13, 2014 in Monroe, GA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/26/2015
Aircraft: BELLANCA 17-30A, registration: N6648V
Injuries: 2 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

During the approach at night, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the oil filter adapter was loose and that it was installed incorrectly with two copper crush gaskets rather than with one copper crush gasket and one fiber gasket per the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The fiber gasket would have held the required torque for the fitting; however, the copper crush gasket did not hold the required torque. Because the oil filter adapter was loose, oil leaked from the engine, which led to the failure of the Nos. 4 and 5 connecting rods due to a lack of oil lubrication. The oil filter adapter was not original equipment on the engine. Although it could be installed under a supplemental type certificate, a review of maintenance and aircraft records did not reveal any entry or record pertaining to the installation of the oil filter adapter. The airplane had been operated for about 70 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 1 year before the accident. It could not be determined when the oil filter adapter was incorrectly installed. 

Although the pilot stated that he had fueled the airplane with 100 low-lead aviation gasoline, automobile gasoline was recovered from the fuel tanks. The higher-compression ratio engine was not designed or approved to operate on automobile gasoline, and engine examinations revealed that it had been operating at higher temperatures due to the use of automobile gasoline. If the engine had not failed due to oil starvation, it is likely that it would have soon begun to detonate due to the use of the improper fuel.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The improper installation of the oil filter adapter at an unknown time, which resulted in an oil leak and subsequent oil starvation to the engine. 

On September 13, 2014, about 2130 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N6648V, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing into trees, following a total loss of engine power during approach near Monroe, Georgia. The private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Dallas Bay Sky Park (1A0), Chattanooga, Tennessee, about 1940. No flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Greene County Airport (3J7), Greensboro, Georgia. 

The pilot reported that prior to the accident flight, he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included adding 100 low-lead aviation gasoline to the left and right wing fuel tanks. He had anticipated fog at his destination airport and planned for a potential diversion to several alternate airports. He subsequently diverted to Monroe-Walton County Airport (D73), Monroe, Georgia. About 3 miles from D73, the pilot heard a "bang" as the engine began to run rough and catch fire. He then pulled the mixture lever back and moved the fuel selector to off. He also dove the airplane until the fire was out. The pilot set up for a forced landing and attempted to glide to D73, but the airplane impacted trees about 1 mile from the airport.

The four-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane, serial number 30301, was manufactured in 1970. It was powered by Continental Motors IO-520, 300-horsepower engine with a compression ratio of 8.5 to 1. The engine was equipped with a McCauley three-blade, constant-speed propeller. According to the aircraft logbooks, the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on September 21, 2013. At that time, the airplane had accumulated 2,969 total hours of operation. The engine had accumulated 1,798 hours since it was remanufactured in 1974. The airplane had flown about 68 hours from the time of the most recent annual inspection, until the accident. The pilot purchased the airplane on November 20, 2013. 

The engine was equipped with an F&M Enterprises Inc. (model C6LC) oil filter adapter. The oil filter adapter was not original equipment, but could be installed on the engine under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) number DE09356SC; however, review of the engine logbook did not reveal any record of the oil filter adapter installation. Further review of FAA airworthiness records for the accident airplane did not reveal any record of the installation being filed with the FAA. Review of the oil filter adapter manufacturer's installation instructions revealed that one fiber gasket and one copper crush gasket were to be used in the installation. 

Initial examination of the engine revealed a hole near the top front of the case. The wreckage was recovered to a salvage facility for further examination by a representative from the engine manufacturer, under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examination revealed that the Nos. 4 and 5 connecting rods had separated and exhibited heat damage due to a lack of lubrication. Further examination revealed that the oil filter adapter was loose and had been installed using two copper crush gaskets, rather than one copper crush gasket and one fiber gasket per the installation instructions. 

Additionally, automobile gasoline was recovered from the fuel tanks, which was not approved for that model engine. Examination of the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinders revealed little to no combustion deposits, consistent with higher operating temperatures of automobile gasoline in that engine.


NTSB Identification: ERA14LA436 
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 13, 2014 in Monroe, GA
Aircraft: BELLANCA 17-30A, registration: N6648V
Injuries: 2 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 13, 2014, about 2130 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N6648V, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing into trees, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Monroe, Georgia. The private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Dallas Bay Sky Park (1A0), Chattanooga, Tennessee, about 1940. No flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Greene County Airport (3J7), Greensboro, Georgia.

The pilot reported that he had anticipated fog at his destination airport and planned for several alternate airports. He subsequently diverted to Monroe-Walton County Airport (D73), Monroe, Georgia. About 6 miles from D73, the pilot heard a "bang" and the engine lost all power. The pilot set up for a forced landing and attempted to glide to D73, but the airplane impacted trees about 1 mile from the airport.

Initial examination of the engine revealed a hole near the top front of the case. The engine was retained for further examination.


JASON L. BAILEY: http://registry.faa.gov/N6648V 





A Chattanooga Pilot's plane goes down in the Georgia woods and lives to tell the tale. 

The Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking had to make an emergency landing in Monroe County Saturday night after the weather took a turn for the worse.

NewsChannel9 spoke to Pilot Jason Bailey by Skype this evening from his hospital room in Monroe County, Georgia. Bailey is pretty banged up but he says that's nothing compared to what could have happened to him and his passenger.

Broken bones, a cracked sternum and a few bumps and bruises. Bailey admits he's seen better days. But he tells us he's thankful to be alive.

"Part of me still can't believe it. I think of the reports I've read, I think of how violent the impact was and it's one of those things where it can't be described and other way than God's grace," said Bailey.

Bailey says he thought the flight to visit family in Georgia would be smooth and brief. Instead, Bailey was forced into a situation where he had to act fast.

"Suddenly out of nowhere I heard a very loud bang.  In addition to that or along with it, came the ominous flames out of the front of the cowling there which covers the engine, the power plant. Smoke started billowing out and also started filing the cabin," said Bailey.

With no time to think, Bailey says he shut the engine off and dove the plane down where it eventually landed in a pile of trees.

"It did run through my mind that you know, we may not make it through this because when we first hit that first tree branch, it was violent beyond anything I've ever personally experienced," said Bailey.

But with the help of adrenaline, Bailey was able to remain alert and call for help.

"It was a very violent impact but I was conscious through the whole ordeal and able to kick the door open when we got there with the endorphins and the adrenaline and we all lived somehow so miraculously," said Bailey.

But don't expect this Private Pilot with more than 500 hours to stay away from the skies anytime soon.

"If friends showed up right now and asked me to go for a ride in an airplane, I'd say, hey doc, I'll be back in a few minutes," said Bailey.

Chattanooga resident Tammy Jarrard was also flying with Bailey when the plane crashed. Bailey says she's in stable condition and suffered a few cracked ribs, bruises and lacerations but she is expected to be okay.

They were also traveling with two dogs who also suffered a few injuries, but they too, are going to be just fine.

By Alyssa Spirato


- Source:  http://www.newschannel9.com


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