# Accident 19980615013589A: Blanca 1731A, Millry, AL, June 15, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 15, 1998, 17:55 local time
- Place: Millry, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.6204° N, 88.3102° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6204&lon=-88.3102&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39853, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39853-2003-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 17-31A (registry code 1220435, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BLANCA 1731A
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1E5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,880 total, 1,759 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA084) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980615013589A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LST POWER ENROUTE. LANDED IN A FIELD. RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. DAMAGED R IGHT WING. (.4) WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE'S #2 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD SUFFERED A FRACTURE. THIS RESULTED IN THE #2 PISTON BECOMING JAMMED IN THE CYLINDER AND BENDING OF THE #2 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE PUSHROD. THESE EVENTS RESULTED IN PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND A FORCED REDUCTION IN POWER SETTING. THE PILOT PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING WHEREON THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED AND TURNED IN EFFORTS TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A TREE/FENCE ROW. THE TURN RESULTED IN A COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GAR AND RIGHT WING COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. THE LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT, PUNCTURED THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL CELL, BROKE THE MAIN RIGHT WING WOOD SPAR AND BENT THE RIGHT FUSELAGE STRINGERS. THE OUTBOARD 36' OF MAIN RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED FROM THE AIRFRAME. (-23) AIRCRAFT ENROUTE VFR/DAY (NO FLIGHT PLAN, ALTITUDE 1000') FROM PEACHTREE/ALT, GA (1445L/EST DEPARTURE) FOR CORPUS CHRISTI, TX WITH SCHEDULED STOP AT GALVESTON, TX. TWO HRS INTO FLIGHT OVER MILLERY, AL AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER AND VIBRATION. PILOT (HOWARD RICHARD HOLT, CERT # 1777548)                          MADE EMERGENCY GEAR DOWN LANDING IN PASTURE ADJACENT TO MILLPOND ROAD APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES NORTH WEST OF MILLRY. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A YAW TO THE LEFT AND SKIDDED 300-320 YARDS. 100 YARDS FROM FINAL RESTING POINT RT WING IMPACTED THE GROUND RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF 36" OF WING TIP. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT TO AVOID TREE/FENCE ROW RESULTING IN COLLAPSE OF THE RT MAIN LANDING GEAR. AIRCRAFT HAD APPROXIMATELY 50 GAL FUEL DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY BETWEEN MAIN AND AUX TANKS. EXAMINATION OF AIRCRAFT REVEALED #2 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD BROKEN, PISTON JAMMED IN CYLINDER AND INTAKE VALE PUSHROD BENT. RT MAIN GEAR BROKE OFF A/C, PUNCTURED THE RT MAIN FUEL CELL, DAMAGED THE MAIN WING SPAR AND RT FUSELAGE STRUCTURE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL98LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA084), Jun 15, 1998: Bellanca 17-31A (N39853), Millry, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fracture of the #2 cylinder connecting rod which resulted in partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. A factor in the accident was the rough terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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