19990821013259A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bbavia 7ECA · Livermore, CA · August 21, 1999

Date: August 21, 1999 · 16:20 local
Place: Livermore, CA
Airport: Livermore Municipal Airport
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N88408
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX99LA279
Reported as: Bbavia 7ECA

N88408Registered now · Bellanca 7ECAS/N 1062-75 · Built 1974 Airframe modelBellanca 7ECA Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Acft took off for local pattern work, lost power, and made an emergency landing off the approach end of rwy 25L. (-23)pilot reported normal takeoff and began a climb at 75 mph. At an estimated 400 to 500 feet AGL, the engine RPM dropped from 2600 to 1500 and experienced severe roughness ans vibration. Pilot pitched aircraft nose down ro achieve best glide speed at 65 mph. Since a straight landing was impractical due to obstacles pilot elected to turn 180 degrees to return to runway. At about half way through the turn, the pilots stated that the engine quit. Pilot stated that he landed hard in a nose down attitdue. During the course of the investigation (engine tear down) it was discovered that number 3 exhaust valve had failed. During aircraft records review, it was discovered that the engine had accumulated 3711.0 hours since last overhaul.

As the FAA filed it

ACFT TOOK OFF FOR LOCAL PATTERN WORK, LOST POWER, AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING OFF THE APPROACH END OF RWY 25L. (-23)PILOT REPORTED NORMAL TAKEOFF AND BEGAN A CLIMB AT 75 MPH. AT AN ESTIMATED 400 TO 500 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED FROM 2600 TO 1500 AND EXPERIENCED SEVERE ROUGHNESS ANS VIBRATION. PILOT PITCHED AIRCRAFT NOSE DOWN RO ACHIEVE BEST GLIDE SPEED AT 65 MPH. SINCE A STRAIGHT LANDING WAS IMPRACTICAL DUE TO OBSTACLES PILOT ELECTED TO TURN 180 DEGREES TO RETURN TO RUNWAY. AT ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE PILOTS STATED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT. PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED HARD IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITDUE. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION (ENGINE TEAR DOWN) IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT NUMBER 3 EXHAUST VALVE HAD FAILED. DURING AIRCRAFT RECORDS REVIEW, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 3711.0 HOURS SINCE LAST OVERHAUL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX99LA279Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLivermore, CAThe failure of the no. 3 cylinder exhaust valve due to the operator's failure to adhere to recommended overhaul periods set by the engine manufacturer. A factor in the accident was the operator's failure to comply with the manufacturer's mandatory service…Aug 21, 1999 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N88408 · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20040627011779INormal Cruise · Byron, CA(-23) On June 27, 2004, at approximately 1520 UTC, pilot-rhett boeger made a mayday call on 121.5. He indicated that he was in the Byron Airport area. Mr. Boeger stated that the engine began vibrating and making a ticking sound. The engine made a loud bang…Jun 27, 2004 · Substantial damage Accident 20021110031629ALivermore, CA(-23) The pilot reported that he had lost control of his aircraft during a touch and go maneuver at the Livermore Municipal Airport. The pilot commented that instead of landing the aircraft on its rear tail wheel he had instead landed the aircraft on its main…Nov 10, 2002 · Substantial damage Accident 19760504011619ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Paso Robles, CAFirst solo flt.May 4, 1976 · Substantial damage