# Accident 20240704008739A: Bellanca 8GCBC, Frankford, DE, July 4, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2024, 16:00 local time
- Place: Frankford, DE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: OLUJ
- Location: 38.5143° N, 75.1421° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5143&lon=-75.1421&mi=10
- Aircraft: N749SK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N749SK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 8GCBC (registry code 1220803, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 407 total, 101 in this make and model, 129 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA299) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240704008739A

## Narrative

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

SINGLE AIRMAN WAS CONDUCTING BANNER TOW OPEATIONS AND WAS RETURNING BACK TO BASE, LOCATED AT BUNTING'S FIELD (4MD1). THE AIRMAN STARTED TO LOSE RPM'S AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE OF 1200' WITH MIXTURE AND THROTTLE FULL. AS THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND, AND ONCE CLEAR OF THE POPULATION, THE AIRMAN DROPPED THE BANNER AT 500', AND THEN INTITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. AT THIS TIME THE AIRMAN EXPERIENCED INTENSE ENGINE ROUGHNESS AND COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. PILOT LINED UP FOR APPROACH OVER AN EMPTY FIELD AND WHILE OVER THE TREE LINE, THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE PILOT PULLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND IMPACTED THE TREE TOPS. AIRCRAFT THEN DROPPED VERTICALLY TO THE GROUND RESTING ON IT'S CANOPY. DAMAGE INCLUDED LEFT WING SEPARATION FROM AIRCRAFT, THE RIGHT WING SPAR SNAPPED, BENT ENGINE MOUNT TUBING, BENT FIREWALL, BENT FORWARD COCKPIT TUBING AND BENT PROPELLER.

## 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 ERA24LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA299), Jul 4, 2024: Bellanca 8GCBC (N749SK), Frankford, DE, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power resulting from cylinder detonation and a cracked spark plug, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.

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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