# Accident 20170818010579A: Bellanca 7ACA, Fairhope, AL, August 18, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 18, 2017, 17:10 local time
- Place: Fairhope, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5231° N, 87.9033° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5231&lon=-87.9033&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9176L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9176L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7ACA (registry code 1220438, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7aca) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 2A4 series (registry code 27001, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-2a4-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ACA
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85-12
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 341 total, 4 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA282) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170818010579A

## Narrative

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

FRONT SEAT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 19.  DURING CLIMBOUT AFTER 6TH LANDING AND AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL, PILOT REPORTS ENGINE QUIT.  HE ATTEMPTED A RESTART BY ADDING CARBURETOR HEAT, CHECKING THE THROTTLE, AND CHECKING FUEL ON.  ENGINE BRIEFLY RESTARTED, QUIT, RESTARTED AND THEN QUIT A THIRD TIME.  PILOT ATTEMPTED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT BUT WAS TOO LOW.  BACK SEAT PILOT, A CFI , TOOK CONTROLS AND LANDED AIRCRAFT IN A COTTON FIELD SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. AIRPLANE CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT UPON CONTACT WITH THE 4 FOOT TALL COTTON, CAUSING IT TO NOSE OVER AND DAMAGE PROPELLER, RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF FUSELAGE , RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND RIGHT WING STRUT.  FRONT PILOT INJURIES INCLUDE FACIAL LACERATIONS AND BROKEN NOSE.  BACK SEAT PILOT BROKE ANKLE.  BOTH PILOTS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL.

## 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 ERA17LA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA282), Aug 18, 2017: Bellanca 7ACA (N9176L), Fairhope, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination and a test run of the engine did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures…

## Other reports on N9176L (1)

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

- [Accident 19781016032169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781016032169A), Oct 16, 1978: Blanca 7ACA (N9176L), Tupper Lake, NY, Substantial damage. Plt experienced carb icing 15 min bfr acdt.

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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