# Incident 20021114030969I: Bbavia 8KCAB, Santa Ana, CA, November 14, 2002

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 14, 2002, 14:10 local time
- Place: Santa Ana, CA
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7368° N, 117.8829° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Ana, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7368&lon=-117.8829&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5535K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5535K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 8KCAB (registry code 1220801, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 series (registry code 41522, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 8KCAB
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 320 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021114030969I

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT REPORTED WHEN RETURNING TO LEVEL FLIGHT FROM INVERTED AEROBATIC MANEUVER, ENGINE "BURBLED". PILOT DECLARED EMERGENCY AND ELECTED TO EXECUTE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT EL TORO MCAS AIRSTRIP (CLOSED). INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL CAP, CAP HAD ONE LOCKING TAB NOT ENGAGED, AND THE FUEL TANKS WERE NEAR EMPTY. PILOT ADMITTED HE HAD CHECKED FUEL CAP DURING PREFLIGHT, AND OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SEAT CAP CORRECTLY. AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED AND RETURNED TO SNA BASE. INTERVIEW WITH SUNRISE AVIATION PRESIDENT REVEALED FUEL CAP GASKET HAD BECOME HARDENED FROM EXPOSURE TO FUEL DURING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS, AND FUEL CAP PROBABLY HAD HEAVY RESISTANCE TO CLOSING ACTION. HE STATED THIS IS A COMMON CONDITION, AND APPLICATION OF FUEL LUBE COMPOUND TO THE GASKET RESTORES FUNCTION.

## Other reports on N5535K (1)

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

- [Incident 20101031050689I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101031050689I), Oct 31, 2010: Bellanca 8KCAB (N5535K), Santa Ana, CA, Minor damage. After normal approach aircraft touched down on numbers and centerline, upon touchdown aircraft veered right and departed runway to a grass area where the…

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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