# NTSB CEN13LA132: Bellanca 17-30A, N222EG, Antlers, OK, January 7, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 7, 2013, 14:12 local (20:12 UTC) - Place: Antlers, OK - Coordinates: 34.231109, -95.620834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2311&lon=-95.6208&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City - NTSB case key (mKey): 86019 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86019/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86019 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA132 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power about 17 minutes into the cross-country flight. The pilot stated that he performed a forced landing into a small field and that the nose and left main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. An on-site examination revealed that the left wing fuel tank and fuselage-auxiliary fuel tank were full of fuel but that the right wing fuel tank was empty. The empty right wing fuel tank appeared to be undamaged, and no evidence of a fuel leak was found. The cockpit fuel gauges confirmed the observed fuel load distribution. The fuel tank selector valve was found in the right wing fuel tank position. The lack of usable fuel in the undamaged right wing tank and the fuel tank selector valve's position indicate that the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On January 7, 2013, at 1412 central standard time, a Bellanca model 17-30A airplane, N222EG, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Antlers, Oklahoma. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by RAM Incorporated, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight departed from McAlester Regional Airport (MLC), McAlester, Oklahoma, at 1355, and had the intended destination of Georgetown Municipal Airport (GTU), Georgetown, Texas. The pilot reported that the accident occurred during the first flight since a recent annual inspection. Approximately 17 minutes into the flight, at 3,500 feet mean sea level, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he performed a forced landing into a small field, where the nose and left main landing gear collapsed during landing roll. The firewall and left wing were substantially damaged during the accident. The airplane's FAA Type Certificate Datasheet listed a total fuel capacity of 83 gallons (75 gallons usable), with each wing fuel tank holding 34 gallons (30 gallons usable) and the fuselage-auxiliary fuel tank holding 15 gallons (15 gallons usable). The pilot indicated that the airplane had 78 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel onboard at departure. He also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. On January 8, 2013, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site. The FAA examination established that the left wing fuel tank and fuselage-auxiliary fuel tank were full of aviation fuel; however, the right wing fuel tank was void of any usable fuel. The right wing tank appeared to be undamaged and there was no evidence of a fuel leak. The cockpit fuel gauges further confirmed the observed fuel load distribution. The fuel tank selector valve was found positioned to draw fuel from the empty right wing tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N222EG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222EG-2018-02-15), registration cancelled 2018-02-15, S/N 78-30877, built 1978 (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: 78-30877 - Airframe hours: 2966 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-520-K 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: RAM, Inc. - Registered owner: RAM, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2013, 0 hours before - Departed: MLC, McAlester, OK - Destination: GTU, Georgetown, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,600 total, 752 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: MLC, 40 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 20130107002129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130107002129A), Jan 7, 2013: Bellanca 17-30A, Antlers, OK, Substantial damage. Departed mcalester ok bound for austin TX. Shortly after takeoff during climb at an altitude of approximately 3500 engine began running rough and would not… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 19, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86019. 954 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 519 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation with FAA Inspector Billy Risley (item 2, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector%20Billy%20Risley-Master.PDF - FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet (item 3, .PDF, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Type%20Certificate%20Data%20Sheet-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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.