# NTSB CEN12CA051: Downer Bellanca 14-19-2, N711W, Borger, TX, November 1, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 1, 2011, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Borger, TX - Coordinates: 35.700832, -101.393608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7008&lon=-101.3936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82230/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82230 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA051 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel management. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention with the broken fuel gauge knob. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=3080114), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=3080114), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=3080114), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3080114), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=3080114), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3080114), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3080114), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3080114), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on a cross-country flight at 9,500 feet mean sea level. About 20 miles from his destination, he started the descent to the airport. The pilot reported that he looked at his fuel gauge and decided to switch fuel tanks when the airplane reached 5,000 feet. As he leveled the airplane, the engine lost power before the pilot switched fuel tanks. He turned on the fuel pump and attempted to turn the fuel selector knob. However, the knob broke in half, leaving just the post. Unable to turn the post and restart the engine, the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing in an open area. During the forced landing, the left wing was nearly severed in two by impact with a tree, the landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. After the accident, the pilot stated that he mistakenly turned the fuel gauge selector knob and not the fuel selector knob then got distracted by the knob breaking. ## Factual narrative The pilot was on a cross-country flight at 9,500 feet mean sea level. Approximately 20 miles from his destination he started the descent to the airport. The pilot reported that he looked at his fuel gauge and decided to switch fuel tanks when reaching 5,000 feet. As he leveled the airplane off, the engine lost power. He turned on the fuel pump and attempted to turn the fuel selector knob. However, the knob broke in half, leaving just the post. Unable to turn the post and re-start the engine, the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing in an open area. During the forced landing, the left wing was nearly severed in two by an impact with a tree, the landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. After the accident, the pilot added that he mistakenly turned the fuel gauge selector knob and not the fuel selector knob, then got distracted by the knob breaking. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N711W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N711W), registered now, S/N 4044 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOWNER BELLANCA 14-19-2 - Registry model: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/downer-bellanca-14-19-2) (registry code 3080114) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4044 - Airframe hours: 2501 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2011 - Departed: KPVW, Plainview, TX - Destination: Borger, TX - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 8, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 678 total, 32 in this make and model, 601 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KBGD, 20 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 20111101024989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111101024989A), Nov 1, 2011: Downer BELLANCA 14-19-2, Borger, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot of N711W was flying from plainview, Texas to Borger, Texas. Approximately 22 miles from Borger as the pilot started a descent he decided to switch… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82230. 7.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 690 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo: Damaged airplane (FAA Photo) (item 3, .PDF, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Damaged%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.PDF 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.