# Accident 20020810023559A: Blanca 1731A, Gainesboro, TN, August 10, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 2002, 11:08 local time
- Place: Gainesboro, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.3972° N, 85.6414° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3972&lon=-85.6414&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39835, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39835-2005-03-29) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA02LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA147) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020810023559A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON AUGUST 10, 2002, ABOUT 1108 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELLANCA 17-31A, N39835, OPERATED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT, MADE A FORCED LANDING NEAR GAINESBORO, TENNESSEE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE-RATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT HAD ORIGINATED FROM THE JACKSON COUNTY AIRPORT, NEAR GAINESBORO, TENNESSEE, ABOUT 1030. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CRUISING AT ABOUT 3,500 FEET WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN VIBRATING. HE SAID HE LOOKED AT THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS BUT FOUND NO ABNORMAL INDICATIONS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE JACKSON COUNTY AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND AT ABOUT 1,800 FEET THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATING. HE SAID HE APPROACHED AN OPEN FIELD AND WAS ABOUT TO LAND WHEN THE LANDING GEAR IMPACTED A BARB WIRE FENCE AND COLLAPSED. THE RIGHT WING THEN HIT A POST AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT BEFORE COMING TO REST. (-23) THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION, AUGUST 12TH AND 13TH, REVEALED THAT THEREAFTER N39835 HAD CRASH LANDED IN A FIELD NEAR THE TOWN OF GAINSBORO, TN. SP  EAKING BY TELEPHONE WITH THE PIC ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 12, HE STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING IN THE CRUISE MODE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. SHORTLY, THEREAFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. PILOT STATED HE BUMPED HIS ELBOW AND HIS PASSENGER HURT HIS BACK SLIGHTLY. THE AIRCRAFT ITSELF SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. LANDING GEAR TORN AWAY FROM MOUNTS; WINGS CRACKED AND PIECES MISSING FROM WINGS; FUSELAGE WRINKLED IN TAIL AREA. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE INDICATED THAT NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS SEPARATED FROM ITS STUD MOUNTS. THE STUDS APPEARED TO BE STRIPPED OF THREADS WHERE THE NUTS HAD BEEN PUSHED OFF. THE ELT WAS IN THE ARMED POSITION AND HAD NOT ACTIVATED. FUEL WAS NOTED INN ALL TANKS. TACH TIME RECORDED AS 2029.03 AIRFRAME, ENGINE AND PROPELLER RECORDS WERE REVIEWED. THE CYLINDER WORK ON NUMBER 4 IN 1973. NO OTHER WORK ON CYLINDERS WAS NOTED. COMPRESSION CHECKED ADEQUATE. THE ANNUAL INSPECTION DATE.

## 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 MIA02LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA147), Aug 10, 2002: Bellanca 17-31A (N39835), Gainesboro, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: a total loss of engine power due to the failure of the main bearing, a loss of oil pressure and the seizure of a connecting rod, resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent forced…

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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