# Accident 20210810014199A: Bellanca 14-19-3, Whitefish, MT, August 10, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 2021, 09:30 local time
- Place: Whitefish, MT
- Airport: Whitefish
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.4080° N, 114.2996° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4080&lon=-114.2996&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1257R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1257R) (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: BELLANCA 14-19-3
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,420 total, 733 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA315) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210810014199A

## Narrative

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

PILOT HAD RECEIVED A REQUEST^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT TO POLSON. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REQUESTED THE PILOT FLY THE AIRCRAFT TO A NEARBY TOWN TO GET AN ANNUAL INSPECTION DONE. THE YEAR PRIOR, THE PILOT HAD DELIVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT FOR AN ANNUAL AS WELL. WHAT THE PIC DID NOT KNOW WAS THAT THE ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS NEVER COMPLETED THE YEAR PRIOR. WHEN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ASKED THIS YEAR, THE PIC JUST ASSUMED IT WAS GOING IN FOR ANOTHER ANNUAL (AND WAS IN CURRENT ANNUAL).

THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOLD THE PILOT THAT HE HAD DONE THE PREFLIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS READY TO GO. HE INFORMED THE PILOT HE HAD PUT 25 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE PILOT WAS INTENDING TO DO A PREFLIGHT BUT SINCE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ IS PARALYZED THE PILOT SPENT TIME TRYING TO GET THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INTO THE AIRCRAFT. DUE TO THERE BEING ONLY ONE DOOR THE PILOT HAD TO GET ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PARTIALLY IN TO THE SEAT THEN GET IN HIMSELF TO THE LEFT SEAT. DURING THIS TIME THE PILOT FORGOT TO DO A FINAL WALKAROUND AS HE HAD INTENDED. HE DID NOT REALIZE THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY OF FUEL. DURING RUNUP THE PILOT CHECKED BOTH TANKS AND THE GAUGES READ AT LEAST 1/2 TANK ON EACH TANK. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ VERIFIED THAT LOOKED CORRECT.

THE PILOT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AFTER A RUNUP AND DURING THE CROSSWIND THE ENGINE STARTED TO FAIL. AFTER TURNING ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER SO THEY CONTINUED INTO THE PATTERN TO LAND. ON FINAL WITH GEAR AND FLAPS DOWN THE ENGINE QUIT AGAIN. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO SWITCH THE FUEL TANK. PILOT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. NO 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 WPR21LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA315), Aug 10, 2021: Bellanca 14-19-3 (N1257R), Whitefish, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to accomplish a preflight inspection.

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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