Bellanca 17-30A N39852
4 December 1994 · Kent, Washington, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 4 December 1994 at about 23:40 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N39852 was involved in an accident near Kent, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kent, Washington, United States
- Coordinates
- 47.3890, -122.2593
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A
- Registration
- N39852
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Electric City → Kent
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA95LA026
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE UNPORTING OF THE USEABLE FUEL SUPPLY, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE AIRPLANE'S PUBLISHED ENGINE STARTING PROCEDURES AFTER THE LOSS OF FUEL FLOW DURING DESCENT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT ARE THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND A BERM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL-INJECTED ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS DESCENDING THROUGH 3,000 FEET MSL FOR LANDING. THINKING THAT HE HAD DEPLETED ONE OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANKS, HE SWITCHED TANKS AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE FUEL BOOST PUMP AS PER THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT START AND THE AIRPLANE WAS FORCE LANDED. IT IMPACTED A BERM AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. EVIDENCE OF SOME USABLE FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH TANKS. AN ESTIMATED 55 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS CONSUMED SINCE THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST REFUELED; THE AIRPLANE HOLDS 60 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL. NO STANDING FUEL WAS FOUND IN ANY OF THE ENGINE FUEL COMPONENTS. ACCORDING TO THE AIRPLANE MANUFACTURER, THE 'CRITICAL ATTITUDE' FOR DETERMINING USABLE FUEL QUANTITY IS 'NOSE DOWN.' AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES. THE AIRPLANE HAD PREVIOUS DISCREPANCIES WITH ITS FUEL SYSTEM, BUT THEY WERE RESOLVED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bellanca 17 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul 1994 | Bellanca 17-30 | Waterford, Michigan, United States | Wooden Airplane Company | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 May 1994 | Bellanca 17-30A | Camdenton, Missouri, United States | Aerne, Dean M. | Fatal | 4 |
| 20 May 1994 | Bellanca 17-30A | Del Rio, Texas, United States | Stroud, Merle C. | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1994 | Bellanca 17-30 | Tomahawk, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 Dec 1995 | Bellanca 17-30 | Durango, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1993 | Bellanca 17-30A | Plainview, Texas, United States | McCann, Michael J. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 1994 | Aero Commander S2R | Dayton, Washington, United States | AG Air Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 28 May 1994 | Rockwell S-2R | Touchet, Washington, United States | Garbe, Duane M. and Carol A. | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1994 | Kopp KITFOX II | Bremerton, Washington, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 May 1994 | Wray KR-2 | Puyallup, Washington, United States | Wray, Rick L. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 1994 | Hughes 369D | Snoqualmie, Washington, United States | Highline Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 1994 | Hiller-Soloy UH-12L4 | Clarkston, Washington, United States | Pope, James R. | Minor injuries | - |