Bellanca 17-31A N39875

Summary

On 10 July 1995 at about 05:46 local time, a Bellanca 17-31A registered N39875 was involved in an accident near Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 July 1995 at 05:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

34.4495, -93.0998

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-31A

Registration

N39875

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Olathe

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

FTW95FA277

4 people died.

THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS A RESULT OF THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. FACTORS WERE THE NIGHT CONDITION AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES TO THE INITIAL DEPARTURE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAKEOFF, AND RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT TOLD A LINEMAN AT THE AIRPORT THAT HE EXPERIENCED A DROP OF 6 TO 7 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED TO REMOVED THE ENGINE COWLINGS AND WORK ON THE ENGINE FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR. AFTER REPLACING THE COWLINGS, THE PILOT DID SEVERAL RUNUPS AND HIGH SPEED TAXIS DOWN THE RUNWAY FOLLOWED BY ONE FLIGHT AROUND THE PATTERN WHILE HIS PASSENGERS WAITED AT THE TERMINAL. THE PASSENGERS WERE REBOARDED AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED. THE PILOT LANDED AT HIS INTERMEDIATE REFUELING STOP TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT. AFTER REFUELING, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED FOR THE FINAL LEG OF THEIR NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES 600 FEET PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING HAD DISENGAGED FROM THE SWAGED END OF THE THROTTLE PUSH ROD ASSEMBLY. THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE FRAYED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.