Bellanca 17-30A N351AE

Summary

On 1 January 2014 at about 20:20 local time, a Bellanca 17-30A registered N351AE, operated by Elom Anthony W, was involved in an accident near Alabaster, Alabama, 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

1 January 2014 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Alabaster, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.2203, -86.8201

Aircraft

Bellanca 17-30A

Registration

N351AE

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Elom Anthony W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bessemer → Alabaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA083

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, while en route on the approximate 11-mile flight, the engine began to "stumble" and run roughly. The pilot activated the fuel boost pump, but, shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently maneuvered the airplane toward the backyard of a residence. The airplane impacted trees and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main fuel tank contained about 10.5 gallons of fuel. About 0.5 gallon of fuel was drained from the left main fuel tank. The auxiliary fuel tank contained no fuel, and the gascolator was absent of fuel. The engine-driven fuel pump line and return fuel line were absent of fuel. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. During a test run, the engine started on the first attempt, accelerated smoothly, and advanced through all power settings with no anomalies observed. Although the airplane's fuel selector was found set to the right main tank position during postaccident examination, based on the lack of fuel in the fuel lines and gascolator, it is likely that it was set to the left main or the auxiliary fuel tank during the flight and moved to the right main tank position just before or after impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.