20121104025949A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bellanca 7ECA · Kenai, AK · November 4, 2012

Date: November 4, 2012 · 12:15 local
Place: Kenai, AK
Airport: Kenai, Alaska
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N31281
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC13LA008
Reported as: Bellanca 7ECA
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-235 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,600 total93 in this make and model44 in the last 90 days

N31281Registered now · Bellanca 7ECAS/N 888-72 · Built 1972 Airframe modelBellanca 7ECA Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

After take off from Kenai, Alaska (ena), leveled off at 900 feet to pattern, engine stopped (not seized). Actuated carb heat, rotated fuel tank selector on/off, no help. Kenai tower notified of engine failure. Pilot made a power off landing approximateley 1/2 mile from end of runway. Hard landing resulting in main gear springs bent up (sprung), tail wheel pushed up and made contact with rudder and then returned to normal position. Tundra tussocks made contact on belly of aircraft resulting in torn fabric and possible flight control bellcrank damage. No prop strike damage.

As the FAA filed it

AFTER TAKE OFF FROM KENAI, ALASKA (ENA), LEVELED OFF AT 900 FEET TO PATTERN, ENGINE STOPPED (NOT SEIZED). ACTUATED CARB HEAT, ROTATED FUEL TANK SELECTOR ON/OFF, NO HELP. KENAI TOWER NOTIFIED OF ENGINE FAILURE. PILOT MADE A POWER OFF LANDING APPROXIMATELEY 1/2 MILE FROM END OF RUNWAY. HARD LANDING RESULTING IN MAIN GEAR SPRINGS BENT UP (SPRUNG), TAIL WHEEL PUSHED UP AND MADE CONTACT WITH RUDDER AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL POSITION. TUNDRA TUSSOCKS MADE CONTACT ON BELLY OF AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN TORN FABRIC AND POSSIBLE FLIGHT CONTROL BELLCRANK DAMAGE. NO PROP STRIKE DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC13LA008Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKenai, AKThe loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat when he reduced engine power.Nov 4, 2012 · Substantial damage