Bellanca 17-30A N14773
20 May 1994 · Del Rio, Texas, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 20 May 1994 at about 21:25 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N14773, operated by Stroud, Merle C., was involved in an accident near Del Rio, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Del Rio, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 29.3702, -100.8891
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A
- Registration
- N14773
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Stroud, Merle C.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Austin
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW94LA175
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
FUEL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO AN EXHAUST SYSTEM LEAK RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INFLIGHT FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL PUMP. 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
DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT NOTICED AN ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND AN ENGINE SURGE. THE PILOT SWITCH FUEL TANKS AND RETURNED FOR LANDING. HE AND A MECHANIC CHECKED THE AIRPLANE AND DECIDED THE SMELL WAS FROM A CLEANING SOLVENT ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE PILOT STARTED THE AIRPLANE AND SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED THE GROUND CHECKS. DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB AT ABOUT 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE STARTED LOOSING POWER AND THE PILOT AGAIN SMELLED THE ODOR. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN ROUGH AND UNEVEN DESERT BRUSH TERRAIN THE MAIN GEAR FOLDED. THE AIRPLANE SLID 120 FEET, SPUN AROUND STRIKING A VEHICLE AND CAME TO REST. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM EXHIBITED PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF LEAKING. NEAR THE EXHAUST WAS A FIRE DAMAGED BUNDLE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRES. THE WIRES WERE NEAR THE FUEL PUMP.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bellanca 17 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul 1994 | Bellanca 17-30 | Waterford, Michigan, United States | Wooden Airplane Company | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 May 1994 | Bellanca 17-30A | Camdenton, Missouri, United States | Aerne, Dean M. | Fatal | 4 |
| 4 Dec 1994 | Bellanca 17-30A | Kent, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 1994 | Bellanca 17-30 | Tomahawk, Wisconsin, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 Dec 1995 | Bellanca 17-30 | Durango, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 1993 | Bellanca 17-30A | Plainview, Texas, United States | McCann, Michael J. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-28-151 | McKinney, Texas, United States | Centerline Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 1994 | Hughes 369HS | Mason, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1994 | Cessna 150D | Mount Pleasant, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-34-200T | Dallas, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jan 1994 | Nelson FORD V-6 STOL 262 | San Benito, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1994 | Cessna T210H | McAllen, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |