# NTSB CEN17LA081: Bellanca 17 30, N39819, Kidron, OH, January 21, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 21, 2017, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Kidron, OH - Coordinates: 40.74472, -81.764724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7447&lon=-81.7647&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 19, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94639 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94639/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94639 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA081 ## Probable cause Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the vacuum pump, which resulted in a loss of engine oil and the subsequent total loss of engine power due to oil starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng rear section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1220433), [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-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); 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) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was conducting a local flight and had been airborne for about 40 minutes when he heard a "bang;" the engine then began to shake and experienced a total loss of power. The pilot conducted a forced landing, and the airplane impacted a stand of pine trees before coming to rest. An onsite examination of the airplane found oil on the underside of the airframe and the back of the engine, with no oil showing on the dipstick. Additionally, the nuts securing the engine vacuum pump appeared loose. Disassembly of the engine found only a small amount of oil in the engine sump as well as numerous metal pieces. The crankshaft No. 5 rod journal exhibited heat damage, and the connecting rod had separated from the journal, consistent with the lack of oil lubrication. A review of the engine's maintenance records revealed that the engine had accumulated about 263 hours since overhaul. The records also indicated the vacuum pump was replaced and had accumulated 1.19 hours at the time of the accident. The accident is consistent with the loss of engine oil from the vacuum pump drive, likely as a result of maintenance personnel improperly securing the vacuum pump following replacement. ## Factual narrative On January 21, 2017, about 1445 eastern standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A airplane, N39819, conducted a forced landing near Kidron, Ohio. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported that he was on a personal flight, and had been airborne for about 40 minutes. He added that he was in cruise at about 2,600 ft above mean sea level (MSL) when he heard a "bang", and the engine started to shake and lose power. He turned towards an airport, but believed that the airplane was not going to make the airport, so he selected a field for the forced landing. During the forced landing, the left wing collided with a brush pile and the airplane impacted a stand of pine trees before coming to a stop. Examination of the airplane on site, by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, found substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage and wings. The inspector also noted that the underside of the airplane and engine compartment had a coating of oil. Additionally, oil quantity was not present on the dipstick. An area was noted on the engine sump, that appeared to be an internal impact mark. Nuts holding the vacuum pump on the engine appeared loose. The engine was separated from the airframe and shipped to the manufacturer's facility in Mobile, Alabama. The engine was examined by the National Transportation Safety Board and technical representatives from Continental Motors. After a visual inspection of the engine, an attempt to rotate the crankshaft was made; the engine rotated but with great difficulty. Disassembly of the engine found only a small amount of oil in the engine sump, along with numerous metal pieces. Inspection of the oil filter element found small amounts of metal. The crankshaft's number five rod journal had heat damage and the connecting rod had separated from the journal. The number one and two rod journals were dry and heat damaged, but the connecting rods remained attached and showed signs of heat distress. A review of the engine's maintenance records revealed the engine was overhauled in December 2008. The engine had accumulated about 263 hours since the overhaul. The records also indicated the engine's vacuum pump was replaced on December 23, 2016, and had accumulated 1.19 hours, at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39819](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39819-2020-10-03), registration cancelled 2020-10-03, S/N 73-30491, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17 30 (A) - 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: 73-30491 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 3109.5 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 26, 2016 - Departed: 1G5, Medina, OH - Destination: 1G5, Medina, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 12,286 total, 513 in this make and model, 9,286 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: KBJJ, 8 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 20170121002849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170121002849A), Jan 21, 2017: Bellanca 17-30A, Kidron, OH, Substantial damage. Approximately 41 minutes into the flight the pilot stated he heard a load bang and suddenly experienced significant engine trouble to include loss of power. He… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94639. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memo (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (excerpts) (item 3, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20(excerpts)-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 769 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Reports from Parties to the Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation-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.