Bellanca 7ECA N50437

Summary

On 14 August 2016 at about 19:20 local time, a Bellanca 7ECA registered N50437 was involved in an accident near Lino Lakes, 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

14 August 2016 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Lino Lakes, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Surfside Airport (MN24)

Coordinates

45.1500, -93.1169

Aircraft

Bellanca 7ECA

Registration

N50437

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lino Lakes → Osceola

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA324

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in reduced climb capability and impact with vegetation and terrain during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot and flight instructor were performing a recurrent training flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Both pilots reported that the takeoff roll and acceleration on the 1,900-ft grass runway seemed normal. As the airplane approached the predetermined decision point, they decided to continue the takeoff. The airplane became airborne near the end of the runway, and the wheels contacted vegetation past the departure end. The airplane slowed, settled into a marshy area, and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the airplane's performance data indicated that, under the conditions present at the time of the accident, the airplane's ground run would be about 546 ft, and the distance to clear a 50-ft obstacle would be about 1,192 ft. However, review of carburetor icing probability charts indicated the potential for moderate icing at cruise power, and serious icing at descent power. The flight instructor reported that, during the takeoff roll, the carburetor heat was off. Thus, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during taxi and run-up before the takeoff, which resulted in a loss of engine power and reduced takeoff performance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.