Bellanca 17-30A N8260R

Summary

On 15 September 2007 at about 18:45 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N8260R was involved in an accident near Dallas, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 September 2007 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Dallas, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Cobb County (RYY)

Coordinates

33.9519, -84.7656

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-30A

Registration

N8260R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carrollton → Marietta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07FA228

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise due to fuel contamination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

**This report was modified on August 18, 2009** The pilot conducted a pre-flight inspection and engine run-up, and then attempted to takeoff. The airplane became airborne momentarily; however, the pilot aborted the takeoff, because he felt the engine "miss." The owner of the airplane and the accident pilot subsequently sampled the fuel tanks located in each respective wing, and discovered water was present in all four tanks. After they both felt comfortable that they had drained all the water from the fuel system, the accident pilot again attempted to takeoff. The airplane departed without incident; however, about 15 minutes after takeoff, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power and impacted trees during a subsequent forced landing. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical abnormalities. The airplane's fuel tanks were compromised; however, through the use of water finding paste, water was identified in the engine-driven fuel pump, fuel control inlet screen, and fuel manifold. The accident flight was the airplane’s first flight since a test flight after its most recent annual inspection, five months prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.