# Accident 20001124041329A: Blanca 1730A, Union, CT, November 24, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 24, 2000, 10:15 local time
- Place: Union, CT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9909° N, 72.1573° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Union, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9909&lon=-72.1573&mi=10
- Aircraft: N280H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N280H-2017-06-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 17-30A (registry code 1220433, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BLANCA 1730A
- Reported engine: CONT IO520*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 480 total, 200 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD01LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA016) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001124041329A

## Narrative

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

(.4) WHILE DESCENDING THROUGH 3,000 FEET, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT AND EMPTY OF FUEL. TWO OF THE THREE LEFT WING FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND SEPARATED FROM THE LEFT WING, AND WERE RUPTURED. HOWEVER, A HALF-GALLON OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN ONE OF THE TANKS. THE FUEL WAS ABSENT OF DEBRIS AND WATER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET TO THE RIGHT WING TANKS. A 15-GALLON AUXILIARY TANK WAS LOCATED IN THE REAR SEAT AREA AND WAS FULL OF FUEL. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR PLACARD REVEALED THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN 'AUX' POSITION; HOWEVER, THE SELECTOR COULD BE MOVED BEYOND THE 'LEFT' TANK POSITION, AND ALIGNED WITH A WHITE SPOT WORN ON THE TRIM COVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE REVEALED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.

## 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 IAD01LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA016), Nov 24, 2000: Bellanca BL-17-30A (N280H), Union, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel supply, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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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