Bellanca 14-13 N86851

Summary

On 28 March 1997 at about 02:25 local time, a Bellanca 14-13 registered N86851 was involved in an accident near Oroville, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 March 1997 at 02:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Oroville, California, United States

Coordinates

39.5008, -121.6701

Aircraft

Bellanca 14-13

Registration

N86851

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Redding → Atwater

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX97LA134

Nobody was injured.

a loss of engine power due to connecting rod bolt failure. The reason for the bolt failure was not determined. A contributing factor was the presence of trees in the emergency landing path.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While cruising at 3,500 feet mean sea level, the engine suddenly began knocking and vibrating. Moments later, all engine power was lost. The pilot initiated a forced landing on a nearby road, but during the approach collided with a tree. An inspection of the engine revealed several holes in the upper portion of the case in the vicinity of the number 6 cylinder. Further examination revealed that both of the number 6 connecting rod bolts were broken and the rod cap was crushed and fragmented. The owner reported that the rod bolts had been in service for about 1,185 hours. The engine's total time was about 2,350 hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.