# Accident 20211030020329A: Bellanca 7ECA, La Porte, TX, October 30, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 30, 2021, 11:30 local time
- Place: La Porte, TX
- Airport: La Porte
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6693° N, 95.0642° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6693&lon=-95.0642&mi=10
- Aircraft: N86612, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86612) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7ECA (registry code 1220460, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,143 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA027) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211030020329A

## Narrative

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

N86612 WAS IN THE PATTERN AT LA PORTE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WHEN IT CRASHED IN A GAS LINE RIGHT-OF-WAY NEAR THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 30.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT REMAINED UPRIGHT AND LARGELY INTACT, AND THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT ON HIS OWN.  THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGED OVERHEAD CABLES, A FENCE, AND SEVERAL SIGNS AND MARKERS.

PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT PERFORMED THREE LAPS IN THE PATTERN AND THEN SHUT DOWN TO ADD FUEL.  AFTER ADDING APPROXIMATELY FIVE GALLONS OF GAS TO EACH TANK, THE PILOT PERFORMED A NORMAL RUN UP AND TAKEOFF, AND REJOINED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.  JUST PRIOR TO MAKING HIS TURN TO BASE ON THE FIRST LAP, THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER.  NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESTART THE ENGINE DUE TO THE ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.

THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY AND CHOSE TO LAND JUST SHORT OF THE APPROACH END IN A GAS LINE RIGHT-OF-WAY.  AS THE AIRCRAFT PASSED OVER THE ROAD ADJACENT TO THE INTENDED LANDING AREA, THE LANDING GEAR CAUGHT THE TOP WIRE OF A FENCE, AND THE LEFT WING AND TAIL STRUCK AN OVERHEAD WIRE. THESE IMPACTS ARRESTED THE FORWARD MOVEMENT AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO STOP IN ROUGHLY 40FT.

INSPECTORS VERIFIED THAT ALL FUEL AND ENGINE CONTROLS FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY AND VERIFIED BOTH FUEL TANKS TO BE FREE OF WATER AND OTHER OBVIOUS CONTAMINANTS.  ALL IGNITERS WERE INSPECTED AND APPEARED NORMAL.  WHEN THE FUEL VALVE WAS TURNED TO THE ?ON? POSITION, FUEL WAS OBSERVED LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE.  UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL WAS COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE CARBURETOR.

THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED BY INVESTIGATORS AND SENT TO THE NTSB FOR TECHNICAL EVALUATION.

THE REPORT WILL BE AMENDED IF MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

## 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 CEN22LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA027), Oct 30, 2021: Bellanca 7ECA (N86612), La Porte, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the carburetor float assembly.

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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