Bellanca 17-31A N39853

Summary

On 15 June 1998 at about 22:55 local time, a Bellanca 17-31A registered N39853 was involved in an accident near Millry, Alabama, 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

15 June 1998 at 22:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Millry, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.6204, -88.3102

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-31A

Registration

N39853

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Corpus Christi

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL98LA084

Nobody was injured.

The fracture of the #2 cylinder connecting rod which resulted in partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. A factor in the accident was the rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise flight, the airplane engine's #2 cylinder connecting rod suffered a fracture. This resulted in the #2 piston becoming jammed in the cylinder and bending of the #2 cylinder intake valve pushrod. These events resulted in partial loss of engine power and a forced reduction in power setting. The pilot performed an emergency landing whereon the landing roll, the airplane skidded and turned in efforts to avoid a collision with a tree/fence row. The turn resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear and right wing collision with the terrain. The landing gear broke off the aircraft, punctured the right main fuel cell, broke the main right wing wood spar and bent the right fuselage stringers. The outboard 36' of main right wing was severed from the airframe.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.