# NTSB BFO86FA027: Bellanca 17-30A, N14781, Riverdale, MD, May 26, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1986, 19:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place: Riverdale, MD
- Coordinates: 38.960849, -76.91996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9608&lon=-76.9200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11207
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO86FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11207/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO86FA027

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise
  - fuel system,drain - not dumped (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - water (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 400 FEET AFTER DEPARTURE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY THE PILOT STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AND IT DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL CRASHING INTO TREES AND THE GROUND. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF UNCONTAMINATED WATER IN THE NUMBER 6 CYLINDER FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE. EXAMINATION OF DRAIN PLUGS IN THE LEFT WING FUEL TANKS AND FUEL SELECTOR VALVE REVEALED THE PLUGS TO BE RUSTED AND DIFFICULT TO REMOVE. THE AIRCRAFT SAT FROM AUGUST 1985 TO FEBRUARY 1986, OUTSIDE, WITH ONLY HALF FULL FUEL TANKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14781](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14781-1989-08-14), registration cancelled 1989-08-14, S/N 7530759 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-30759
- Airframe hours: 980
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael B. Mcintyre
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 1985, 33 hours before
- Departed: CGS, COLLEGE PARK, MD
- Destination: ANP, ANNAPOLIS, MD
- Airport: CGS, College Park, runway 15, 2,740 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 348 total, 19 in this make and model, 216 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWI, 16 nm away

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.