# NTSB ATL98LA084: Bellanca 17-31A, N39853, Millry, AL, June 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 1998, 17:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Millry, AL - Coordinates: 31.620367, -88.310173 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6204&lon=-88.3102&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45747 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45747/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA084 ## Probable cause The fracture of the #2 cylinder connecting rod which resulted in partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. A factor in the accident was the rough terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,connecting rod - fractured (cause) - engine assembly,piston - jammed (cause) - engine assembly,push rod - bent (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise flight, the airplane engine's #2 cylinder connecting rod suffered a fracture. This resulted in the #2 piston becoming jammed in the cylinder and bending of the #2 cylinder intake valve pushrod. These events resulted in partial loss of engine power and a forced reduction in power setting. The pilot performed an emergency landing whereon the landing roll, the airplane skidded and turned in efforts to avoid a collision with a tree/fence row. The turn resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear and right wing collision with the terrain. The landing gear broke off the aircraft, punctured the right main fuel cell, broke the main right wing wood spar and bent the right fuselage stringers. The outboard 36' of main right wing was severed from the airframe. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 1998, about 1755 Central Daylight Time, a Bellanca BL-17-31A, N39853, collided with terrain during a forced landing near Millry, Alabama. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta, Georgia at 1645 Eastern Daylight Time for Corpus Christi, Texas. According to the pilot, while in cruise flight, the engine noise changed as the engine appeared to lose 15 to 30 percent of its power. According to the pilot, a moderate vibration began a few seconds later causing him to reduce power to idle and execute a forced landing. Upon landing, the pilot stated, "the field had lots of washboard effect." According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors who examined the wreckage, the airplane skidded approximately 300-320 yards upon landing. In an attempt to avoid a collision with a tree/fence row, the pilot attempted to turn the aircraft to the left. Inspector's noted the right main landing gear collapsed, the right main fuel cell punctured, main right wing wood spar broken at the fuselage attachment point, bending of the right fuselage stringers and 36" of the right wingtip was torn from the airframe. Examination of the aircraft engine revealed a fractured #2 cylinder connecting rod, #2 piston jammed in the cylinder and a bent #2 cylinder intake valve pushrod. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39853](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39853-2003-05-08), registration cancelled 2003-05-08, S/N 73-32-97, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 17-31A - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a) (registry code 1220435) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 73-32-97 - Airframe hours: 3048 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1E5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: H R Aircraft Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 1997, 92 hours before - Departed: PDK, ATLANTA, GA - Destination: CRP, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,880 total, 1,759 in this make and model, 2,755 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MOB, 66 nm away ## 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 19980615013589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980615013589A), Jun 15, 1998: Blanca 1731A, Millry, AL, Substantial damage. Lst power enroute. Landed in a field. Right main gear collapsed. Damaged r ight wing. (.4) while in cruise flight, the airplane engine's #2 cylinder connecting… 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.