Bellanca 17-31ATC N39827

Summary

On 7 June 2000 at about 19:55 local time, a Bellanca 17-31ATC registered N39827 was involved in an accident near Del Rio, Texas, United States. 2 people were 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

7 June 2000 at 19:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Del Rio, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.3705, -100.8891

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-31ATC

Registration

N39827

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Antonio → Eloy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA176

Nobody was injured.

The separation of the #3 connecting rod, piston, and cylinder. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was in cruise flight at 12,500 feet, when the pilot noticed the manifold pressure drop from 37 inches to 19 inches of mercury. The airplane was descending through 5,000 feet when the #3 cylinder and engine cowling separated from the airplane. The pilot initiated a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted mesquite trees. The #3 cylinder, piston, and connecting rod were found missing from the engine and were not recovered. Some small metallic debris remained in the oil sump. The original engine maintenance records were lost, and the total time on the engine was estimated to be 1,238 hours on October 1, 1983. On November 6, 1989, after a propeller strike, the engine underwent a top overhaul and crankshaft run-out inspection at an estimated engine total time of 1,615.6 hours. The last 100-hour inspection was conducted on March 28, 2000, at an estimated engine total time of 1,830.55 hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.