# Accident 19990823042369A: Blanca 1730A, Robbins, TN, August 23, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 23, 1999, 12:26 local time - Place: Robbins, TN - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Normal Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 36.3194° N, 84.5707° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3194&lon=-84.5707&mi=10 - Aircraft: N42VB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42VB-2000-03-06) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bellanca 17-30A (registry code 1220433, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BLANCA 1730A - Reported engine: CONT IO520K - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,276 total, 32 in this make and model - NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA99LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA234) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990823042369A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.4)DURING CRUISE FLIGHT ABOUT 49 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT DECLARED A MAYDAY AND REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT. UNABLE TO LAND AT THE CLOSEST AIRPORT, HE MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE FOR A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE DESCENDING. THE NOS. 1, 2, AND 4 CONNECTING RODS WERE BROKEN; HEAT DISTRESS WAS NOTED AT CYLINDER NOS. 1, 2, AND 4 CONNECTING ROD JOURNALS. FRETTING WAS NOTED AT THE UPPER SUPPORT BOSS FOR THE NO. 2 MAIN BEARING. DAMAGE TO THE BEARING SADDLE AREA ON BOTH CRANKCASE HALVES FOR THE NO. 2 MAIN BEARING WAS NOTED. BROWN DISCOLORATION WAS NOTED AT THE NO. 2 MAIN BEARING JOURNAL. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED DECEMBER 1985, INSTALLED APRIL 1986, AND JANUARY 1994, THE NOS. 3, AND 6 CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED AND THE TOP OF THE CRANKCASE WAS SEALED. THE ENGINE ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 995 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL AND 328 HOURS SINCE INSTALLATION OF THE REPLACEMENT CYLINDERS. THE THRU BOLT LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE FRETTED SUPPORT BOSS OF THE NO. 2 MAIN BEARING IS USED TO SECURE THE NOS. 2, AND 3 CYLINDERS. THE ENGINE OIL WAS CHANGED LAST APPROXIMATELY 65 HOURS EARLIER; THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGE EACH 25 HOURS. (-23) A/C DEPARTED VFR FROM TRI-CITIES AIRPORT ENROUTE TO NASHVILLE, TX. AT CRUISE ALTITUDE PILOT EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE. PILOT DECLARED MAYDAY TO ATL-ATC. PILOT ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY LANDING IN HAY FIELD. PILOT LOWERED LANDING GEAR AND DESCENDED INTO THE TREES. CAME TO REST AT THE EDGE OF THE INTENDED FIELD. PILOT RECEIVED A SERIOUS BACK INJURY. PILOT DID NOT HOLD A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. REVOKED IN MAY 1990. ENGINE SUFFERED MASSIVE FAILURE. TWO HOLES IN ENGINE CASE ABOVE NUMBER 2 AND 4 RODS. ENGINE IS AWAITING TEARDOWN BY FAA AND THE MANUFACTURE. ## 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 MIA99LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA234), Aug 23, 1999: Bellanca 17-30A (N42VB), Robbins, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to failure of maintenance personnel to assure that the thru bolt nut at the Nos. 2 and 3 cylinders was adequately torqued following removal and replacement of the… ## Other reports on N42VB (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19840916062009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840916062009I), Sep 16, 1984: Blanca 1730A (N42VB), Blanding, UT, Minor damage. Emergency gear handle cracked during extension attempt after claimed electrical failure. Made wheels up landing. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.