# NTSB ATL05CA056: Bellanca 17-30A, N4024B, Eagleville, TN, March 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 3, 2005, 21:00 local (Mar 4, 2005, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Eagleville, TN - Coordinates: 35.713611, -86.589164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7136&lon=-86.5892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Nashville FSDO - 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61087/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply by his failure to switch the fuel selector position , which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - light condition - night ## Analysis The flight was cruising at 3,000 feet approximately 15 nautical miles north of Bomar Field - Shelbyville Municipal Airport, Shelbyville, Tennessee, when the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot stated he moved the fuel selector from the auxiliary fuel tank to the right main fuel tank, established glide airspeed, and reported the loss of engine power to the Nashville air traffic control tower. The pilot stated he tried to find a road or clearing for landing, but he could not distinguish the terrain in the darkness. The pilot glided the airplane toward a dark area, then turned on the landing light and immediately saw treetops. The airplane collided with the trees and the ground. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. He stated he had planned to change the selected fuel tank in five or ten minutes, and he had inadvertently allowed the auxiliary tank to run out of fuel before switching to a tank containing fuel. The elevation at the accident site was approximately 830 feet. ## Factual narrative On March 3, 2005, about 2100 central standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N4024B, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided with trees and the ground following a loss of engine power in Eagleville, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight departed John C. Tune Airport, Nashville, Tennessee, about 2035. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot completed two 15-minute flights, and one 2.5-hour flight to practice instrument approaches. The pilot estimated the airplane had 17 gallons of fuel on board when he departed Nashville, Tennessee. The flight was cruising at 3,000 feet approximately 15 nautical miles north of Bomar Field - Shelbyville Municipal Airport, Shelbyville, Tennessee, when the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot stated he moved the fuel selector from the auxiliary fuel tank to the right main fuel tank, established glide airspeed, and reported the loss of engine power to the Nashville air traffic control tower. The pilot stated he tried to find a road or clearing for landing, but he could not distinguish the terrain in the darkness. The pilot glided the airplane toward a dark area, then turned on the landing light and immediately saw treetops. The airplane collided with the trees and the ground. Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane came to rest inverted in a wooded area. The right wing was separated, and the left wing, fuselage, and empennage were damaged. The engine was separated and found resting beside the cabin, and the propeller was separated. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. He stated he had planned to change the selected fuel tank in five or ten minutes, and he had inadvertently allowed the auxiliary tank to run out of fuel before switching to a tank containing fuel. The elevation at the accident site was approximately 830 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4024B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4024B-2006-04-06), registration cancelled 2006-04-06, S/N 75-30750, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 17-30A - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-30750 - Engines: Continental IO-520 K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joseph Trent Kendall - Registered owner: Joe Kendall - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2004 - Departed: KJWN, Nashville, TN - Destination: KSYI, Shelbyville, TN - Airport: KSYI, Bomar Field - Shelbyville Muni, runway 18 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 13, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 220 total, 152 in this make and model, 179 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KBNA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050303006789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050303006789A), Mar 3, 2005: Blanca 1730A, Engleville, TN, Destroyed. (-23) Fuel management-pilot was running on auxiliary fuel tank. When engine sputtered and lost power, pilot moved fuel selector from auxiliary tank to main… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.