Bellanca 17-30A N28067

Summary

On 3 December 2020 at about 03:15 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N28067 was involved in an accident near Arden Hills, Minnesota, 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

3 December 2020 at 03:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Arden Hills, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

45.0481, -93.1876

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-30A

Registration

N28067

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blaine → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN21LA073

Nobody was injured.

Incorrect connecting rod installation, which resulted in the failure of the nos. 5 and 6 connecting rods and subsequent total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he heard a loud “bang” and the engine began to vibrate and ultimately lost complete power. He executed a forced landing to a highway during which the airplane struck a car and a highway divider which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident engine examination revealed that the Nos. 5 and 6 connecting rods had failed. Further examination revealed two undamaged rod nuts within the oil pan that had no remnant of a rod bolt within the threaded portion of the nut. Additionally, a rod bolt, although damaged, was complete from bolt head to threaded shank and did not have a nut on the threaded portion. Review of maintenance records revealed that the Nos. 1, 4, and 6 cylinders had been removed and replaced due to low compression about 8 years and 396 hours before the accident, but it is not known if the connecting rods were removed at this same time. The most recent engine overhaul was completed 16 years before the accident, and it had accumulated about 1,296 hours time-in-service since the overhaul. Based on the available evidence, the loss of engine power was likely due to improper connecting rod installation that resulted in the loss of connecting rod bolt torque, separation of the rod bolt nuts, and subsequent failure of the Nos. 5 and 6 connecting rods.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.