# Accident 20161016020459A: Bellanca 17-31A, Mcalester, OK, October 16, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 16, 2016, 12:10 local time
- Place: Mcalester, OK
- Airport: Mc Alester Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4736° N, 96.3094° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4736&lon=-96.3094&mi=10
- Aircraft: N93668, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93668-2020-04-03) (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: BELLANCA 17-31A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,983 total, 5 in this make and model, 74 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA019) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161016020459A

## Narrative

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

THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT/OWNER (NEWLY PURCHASED)  WAS RECEIVING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION AND WAS ATTEMPTING A TOUCH AND GO AT MCALLESTER, OK. (KMLC) AND EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE ON CLIMB OUT OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT/PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING 200 FEET SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE THRESHOLD. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN UPRIGHT AND SLID 30-40 FEET AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, NO POST IMPACT FIRE ENSUED.

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED ?WE PERFORMED THE GUMPS CHECK AND SINCE THE LEFT WING TANK WAS HIGHEST, WE SELECTED IT TO BURN FROM.  WE VERIFIED TANK SELECTION BY ENSURING THE LEFT TANK LIGHT WAS LIT.  AFTER THE TOUCH AND GO, PASSING 100 FT, THE ENGINE FAILED.  WE SET GLIDE SPEED (102 MPH) AND I CAME INSIDE THE COCKPIT TO VERIFY THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS TO THE LEFT WING TANK, THAT THE MIXTURE WAS FULL RICH, THE PROP AT FULL AND THE THROTTLE AT FULL?.

AIRCRAFT INSPECTION REVEALED MAJOR IMPACT DAMAGE TO BOTH WING SPARS, LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR, BOTH FLAPS, PROPELLER AND ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE, ENGINE MOUNT EARS WERE ALSO FOUND BROKEN. MINIMAL FUEL WAS PRESENT IN LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN TANKS, AUX. TANK APPEARED FULL. THE FUEL LINES/HOSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE DISCONNECTED AND CONTAINED ONLY A FEW DROPS OF WHAT APPEARED AND HAD THE ODOR OF AVGAS. FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE LOWER FUSELAGE IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE REVEALED HEAVY IMPACT DAMAGE AND SEPARATION OF THE A/N FITTINGS FOR THE FUEL SUPPLY LINES. THE GASCOLATOR SCREEN WAS NOT OBSTRUCTED AND BOWL ONLY CONTAINED A FEW DROPS OF WHAT APPEARED AND HAD THE ODOR OF AVGAS.

THE INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A POSSIBLE UN-PORTING OF THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE DURING CLIMB OUT DUE TO LOW FUEL QUANTITY AND THE SWITCHING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. AN ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTING FACTOR MAY ALSO BE THE MANUFACTURER?S OMISSION OF THE REQUIREMENT TO TURN ON THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP DURING TAKE OFF AND LANDING AND WHEN SWITCHING FUEL TANKS.  FURTHER INVESTIGATION MAY REVEAL ADDITIONAL FINDINGS AND THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS REQUIRED.

## 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 CEN17LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA019), Oct 16, 2016: Bellanca 17-31A (N93668), Mc Alester, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation.

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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