Bellanca 17-30 N7312V

Summary

On 5 March 1997 at about 21:15 local time, a Bellanca 17-30 registered N7312V was involved in an accident near Aikens, South Carolina, 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.

Date

5 March 1997 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Aikens, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Twin Lakes (49J)

Coordinates

33.5397, -81.7197

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-30

Registration

N7312V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Raleigh → Augusta

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97LA045

1 person had minor injuries.

excessive wear of the fuel metering unit/shaft, which resulted in a fuel leak and premature exhaustion of the fuel supply.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot experienced a loss of engine power en route to his destination. He initiated an emergency descent for a forced landing. The airplane collided with two trees in the intended landing area. According to the pilot, the airplane had a fuel endurance of 4.8 hours, and he had flown about 3.0 hours since the last refueling. Examination of the engine assembly disclosed that there was a fuel leak around the shaft in the metering unit. The nature of the leak was a steady stream, such that, it was not possible to flow test the unit. Smaller leaks were also found in the fuel pump from the shaft seal and the adjustable orifice o-ring. The control linkage on the fuel metering unit and the throttle body were excessively worn. No fuel was recovered from the fuel system during on-site examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.