# Accident 20050730016359A: Blanca 14193, Grand Junction, CO, July 30, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2005, 12:25 local time
- Place: Grand Junction, CO
- Airport: Walker Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1095° N, 108.5305° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1095&lon=-108.5305&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8870R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8870R-2006-05-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 14-19-3 (registry code 3080106, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-14-19-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BLANCA 14193
- Reported engine: CONT IO470*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,200 total, 170 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN05LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050730016359A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 1.4 HOURS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR OF LOCAL FLIGHT HE BEGAN CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO OPERATIONS. SHORTLY AFTER THE 4TH TAKE-OFF THE PILOT RADIOED THE TOWER AND REPORTED THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A NARROW RAVINE APPROXIMATELY 20 YARDS WIDE AND 35 FEET DEEP AND APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE RAVINE RAN GENERALLY NORTH/SOUTH. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN THE BOTTOM ON THE WEST SIDE HEADING 270 DEGREES. THE COCKPIT APPEARED SURVIVABLE. THERE WERE NO SHOULDER STRAPS INSTALLED. THE SEAT BELT REMAINED INTACT. THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL FLOW DIVIDER. A DRAINING OF THE AUX TANK, LEFT TANK (TANK WAS RUPTURED), RIGHT TANK AND GASTOLATOR SUMPS PRODUCED APPROXIMATELY 16 OUNCES OF CLEAN BLUE FUEL. THE WINGS WERE REMOVED AND NO USEABLE FUEL WAS FOUND. THE FUEL SELECTOR POINTER WAS MISSING AND COULD NOT BE LOCATED SO A DETERMINATION OF WHICH TANK IT WAS ON WAS NOT POSSIBLE (SEE ITEM #9, BLOCK 43). THIS WILL BE DETERMINED AT THE SALVAGE YARD. OF THE TWO PROPELLER BLADES ONE HAD NO DAMAGE AND THE OTHER ONE WAS BENT AFT AND BENEATH THE ENGINE IN THE DIRT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED FLAT WITH GEAR DOWN, FLAPS UP. (-23 AMENDMENT) THE NTSB PERFORMED A TEAR-DOWN OF THE FUEL SELECTOR AND DETERMINED THE SELECTOR WAS SET TO THE RIGHT MAIN. THE RIGHT MAIN WAS NOT COMPROMISED AND WAS COMPLETELY DRY. THE APPARENT PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO THE WEIGHT AND MOMENTUM OF THE FUEL RUPTURING THE FULL FUEL CELL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. THE INITIAL CONCLUSION THAT THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION IN THE RIGHT TANK REMAINS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. IN THAT THE PILOT IS DECEASED AND NO MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED THIS ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED AND NO FURTHER ACTION IS INDICATED.

## 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 DEN05LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA117), Jul 30, 2005: Bellanca 14-19-3 (N8870R), Grand Junction, CO, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the improper fuel selector position. Factors contributing to the accident were the inadvertent stall, the ravine, and the steep drop off…

## Other reports on N8870R (1)

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

- [Accident 19850315011099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850315011099A), Mar 15, 1985: Blanca 14193A (N8870R), Paso Robles, CA, Substantial damage. With ignition switch off, turned prop. Engine started, taxied into parked aircraft. Mag ground wire p lead broken.

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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