# NTSB CHI02CA253: Bellanca BL-17-30A, N8851V, Ohiawa, NE, August 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2002, 10:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Ohiawa, NE - Coordinates: 40.301109, -96.803886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3011&lon=-96.8039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02CA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55579/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02CA253 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to verify the aircraft refueling and he did not follow emergency procedures for engine restart. Factors to the accident included fuel starvation and the fence post. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system - starvation (contributing factor) - refueling - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - fence post (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when it hit a post during a forced landing to a field after a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that when he refueled the airplane prior to the accident flight, he had requested that the lineman top off the fuel tanks. He did not visually check the left fuel tank, but he had checked the right fuel tank. He reported the fuel selector was positioned on the left fuel tank during the flight. He reported the engine suddenly quit. He could not get the engine restarted and he did a forced landing to a cornfield. An inspection of the fuel tanks revealed the left fuel tank was dry and the right fuel tank was full. The pilot reported, "I came to recall that my normal starting procedure is to have the boost pump on. The engine does not start without it. Also after normal shut-off by pulling the mixture to the full lean position, the engine will not start in < 15 seconds even after priming to normal boost pump pressures and the boost pump on while cranking...This entire evolution lasted an estimated 60-90 seconds. This may not have allowed sufficient time for fuel flow to [be] re-established through completely dry fuel lines and pumps." The pilot stated the following in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 form under Owner/Operator Safety Recommendation: "Visually check all fuel tank levels on preflight. Do Not assume flight line people followed your requests." ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2002, at 1005 central daylight time, a Bellanca BL-17-30A, sustained substantial damage when it hit a post during a forced landing to a field located 1.5 miles from Ohiawa, Nebraska, after a loss of engine power. The pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed Beatrice, Nebraska, at 0950 and was en route to Hastings, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that when he refueled the airplane prior to the accident flight, he had requested that the lineman top off the fuel tanks. He did not visually check the left fuel tank, but he had checked the right fuel tank. He reported the fuel selector was positioned on the left fuel tank during the flight. He reported the engine suddenly quit. He could not get the engine restarted and he did a forced landing to a cornfield. An inspection of the fuel tanks revealed the left fuel tank was dry and the right fuel tank was full. The pilot reported, "I came to recall that my normal starting procedure is to have the boost pump on. The engine does not start without it. Also after normal shut-off by pulling the mixture to the full lean position, the engine will not start in < 15 seconds even after priming to normal boost pump pressures and the boost pump on while cranking... .This entire evolution lasted an estimated 60-90 seconds. This may not have allowed sufficient time for fuel flow to [be] re-established through completely dry fuel lines and pumps." The pilot stated the following in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 form under Owner/Operator Safety Recommendation: "Visually check all fuel tank levels on preflight. Do Not assume flight line people followed your requests." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8851V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8851V-2017-02-28), registration cancelled 2017-02-28, S/N 30372, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca BL-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: 30372 - Engines: Continental IO-540-KIE5 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: K & B Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BIE, BIETRICE, NE - Destination: HSI, HASTINGS, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 758 total, 29 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 345° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 20020817027749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020817027749A), Aug 17, 2002: Blanca 1730A, Ohiowa, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) Approximately 0940 CDT, on August 17, 2002, a Bellanca BL-17-30A, N8851V, s/n 30372, departed beatrice, Nebraska, on a VFR flight to hastings, Nebraska.… 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.