# NTSB CEN22LA027: Bellanca 7ECA, N86612, La Porte, TX, October 30, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 30, 2021, 14:37 local (19:37 UTC) - Place: La Porte, TX - Coordinates: 29.66925, -95.064194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6693&lon=-95.0642&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104205 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104205/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104205 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA027 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the carburetor float assembly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while operating in the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost total power and he performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted fence poles and sustained substantial damage. Examination revealed that when the fuel valve was turned on, fuel ran continuously through the carburetor and out the bottom of the engine. Examination of the carburetor float assembly revealed a detached pontoon, which likely resulted in the loss of engine power due to excess fuel/flooding. The detached pontoon was an older brass style that was subject to service bulletins for replacement due to a history of mechanical failures. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2021, about 1437 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA airplane, N86612, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near LaPorte, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, while operating in the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost power and did not respond after he applied full throttle and carburetor heat. The pilot performed a forced landing during which the airplane impacted fence poles, which resulted in damage to both wings. Examination of the airplane revealed that when the fuel valve was turned on, fuel ran continuously through the carburetor and out of the bottom of the engine. The carburetor was removed and shipped to a repair facility, where it was determined that a pontoon had detached from the carburetor’s float assembly arm. Without a pontoon attached to the float assembly arm, excess fuel/flooding was possible in the float chamber. The detached pontoon was an older brass style that was subject to service bulletins for replacement due to a history of mechanical failures. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86612](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86612), registered now, S/N 1008-74, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1008-74 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 5317 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2021, 15 hours before - Departed: T41, Houston, TX - Destination: T41, Houston, TX - Airport: T41, La Porte Muni, runway 12/30, 4,165 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 17, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,151 total, 274 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KEFD, 6 nm away - METAR: KEFD 301950Z 30010KT 10SM CLR 24/01 A2990 ## 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 20211030020329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211030020329A), Oct 30, 2021: Bellanca 7ECA, La Porte, TX, Substantial damage. N86612 was in the pattern at La Porte municipal airport when it crashed in a gas line right-of-way near the approach end of runway 30. The aircraft was… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104205. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13411407&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos of airplane (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13411266&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Correspondence with FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13410714&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Exam report (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13411505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carb%20Exam%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Service bulletins on brass floats (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 360 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13411276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Service%20Bulletins%20for%20Brass%20Floats-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.