# Accident 20120520007659A: Bel-Aire Aviation Inc 2000, Seneca Falls, NY, May 20, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 2012, 14:58 local time
- Place: Seneca Falls, NY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.9903° N, 76.8019° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9903&lon=-76.8019&mi=10
- Aircraft: N122BA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N122BA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bel-Aire 2000 (registry code 0560662, https://openairdocs.org/model/bel-aire-2000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEL-AIRE AVIATION INC 2000
- Reported engine: CHEVEROLET 383
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,900 total, 1 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA349) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120520007659A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED ON INITIAL FLIGHT FROM A FARMERS FIELD {N43 09 42.5  W076 50 06.7 } WITH NEWLY PURCHASED EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT THAT HAD NOT FLOWN FOR A YEAR. SUMPED FUEL BUT DID NOT DRAIN APPROXIMATELY 10 GALS OF AUTOGAS FROM FUEL TANK. ADDED 30 GAL OF AUTOGAS. PREFORMED 35 MIN OF TEST RUNS AND DEPARTED HEADED SOUTH. 20 MIN (15 MILES)  INTO FLIGHT, CHEVROLET  383 ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY FROM SUSPECTED FUEL STARVATION. PILOT COULD GET ENGINE TO RUN BY PUMPING  PRIMER. PILOT  ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN GRASS FIELD AND AVOIDED PLANTED FIELDS. AS HE CAME OVER TREE LINE AIRCRAFT LOST AIRSPEED AND STALLED 50 FEET AGL. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AND SKIDDED APP 75 FEET. BOTH AIRCRAFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND LOWER WING SPARS WERE BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. UPPER WING  SPAR WAS BROKEN ON LEFT SIDE. FUSELAGE REMAINED INTACT.  PILOT WAS WEARING SHOULDER HARNESS AND LEATHER HELMET. LACERATION TO BACK OF PILOTS HEAD OCCURRED DUE TO AN UNPROTECTED METAL FRAME BEHIND HIS HEAD. HELMET REDUCED SEVERITY OF INJURY. NO OTHER INJURIES.

## 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 ERA12LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA349), May 20, 2012: Belcher, Gerald C BEL Aire 2000 (N122BA), Tyre, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during the postaccident investigation.

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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