20000101008419A

(-23) See attached narrative NTSB#ATLOOFA019 (.4) the four place Bellanca BL-17-30A airplane, N8821V, was owned and operated by the pilot. N8821V was powered by a fuel injected, 300 horse power Continental motors IO-520-K engine. A review of the airplane maintenance logbooks showed that the last annual inspection was completed on July 28, 1999. The airframe tachometer was not recovered at the accident site, however, according to the airframe maintenance logbook the last entry was recored on December 24, 1999, at 1916.5 hours. History of flight: on January 1, 2000, at 1302 CST, a Bellanca BL-17-30A, N8821V, collided with trees and burst into flames in a heavily wooded area near Monteagle, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91 with no flight plan filed. Instrument weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed; the private pilot and his passengers were fatally injured. According to the initial report from local law enforcement authorities, the flight departed asheville, north carolina, at an undetermined time, and the exact route of flight was not known. Reportedly, the pilot and his passenger spent the evening prior to the accident at a local hotel in asheville, north carolina. Circumstances of the history of flight are also not known. The flight departed asheville, north carolina, at an undetermined time on the morning of the accident. The intended route of flight was not determined, a review of the federal aviation administration flight service system failed to disclose that the pilot had received a pre-flight weather briefing for the intended flight. The flight was first heard only seconds before the airplane collided with trees. Accordingto a witness near the accident site, he heard the airplane overhead followed by ahigh revving engine sound and the sound of the airplane colliding with the trees. Another witness reported hearing an explosion during the sequence of events. Subsequent to the collision, smoke was sighted in the vicinity of the accident site. Within minutes of the collision, emergency response personnel from surrounding counties were on site. According to Monteagle chief of police, upon arriving at the accident site, he noticed that fog and low clouds were about 20 feet above the ground, and the mountain top was obscured. Wreckage and impact information: examination of the accident site disclosed that wreckage debris was scattered over an area approx. 800 feet long and 60 feet wide. Wreckage debris was orientated on a northwesterly magnetic heading. Several freshly broken trees were scattered along the wreckage path. Fire damage was confined to the last third of the wreckage path. The main wreckage, which consisted of the cockpit and center section of the airframe, was heavily fire damaged. Further examination of the airframe disclosed that the airplane rested inverted at the accident site. Several pieces of the airframe including engine cowling were torn from the airplane and were scattered throughout the length of the wreckage path. Other wreckage debris was lodged in trees along the wreckage path. The engine assembly was located approx. 100' nw of the main wreckage. Examination of the engine assembly revealed that many externally installed components were torn from their normally installed postions. Further examination of the engine showed a large hole on the top and front portions of engine case halves. The three propeller blades separated from the engine assembly. One properller blade rested 48 feet nw of the main wreckage the second and third propeller blades remained attached to the hub assembly and was 39 feet east of the main wreckage. Examination of the propeller blades showed twisting and chordwise scraping on each blade. The examination of the engine failed to disclose a system malfunction or a component failure. Examination of the remainder of the airframe also failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or the failure of related component assemblies.