# NTSB CHI94LA204: Bellanca 17-30, N8218R, Tomahawk, WI, June 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1994, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Tomahawk, WI - Coordinates: 44.540287, -89.559051 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5403&lon=-89.5591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9572 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9572/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA204 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN IN PREVENTING THE PILOT FROM MAKING A SAFE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT AND FIVE MINUTES AFTER HE HAD SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES BEFORE IMPACTING A SWAMP. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED UNDER WATER IN THE SWAMP FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS UNTIL THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE WRECKAGE REMOVED. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE AMOUNT OF REMAINING FUEL COULD NOT ACCURATELY BE DETERMINED AT THE TIME OF EXAMINATION DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME WHICH THE AIRPLANE REMAINED IN THE SWAMP. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 1994, about 1445 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30, N8218R, was destroyed following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing in a swamp near Tomahawk, Wisconsin. No injuries were reported by the commercial pilot, minor injuries were reported by two passengers, and serious injuries were reported by one passenger. The local pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan. The flight originated from Green Bay, Wisconsin, on the day before the accident and flew a total of one hour. The pilot reported that on the day of the accident, approximately fifteen minutes after departing Tomahawk, Wisconsin, the engine sputtered and quit about five minutes after he had switched fuel tanks. All attempts to restart the engine failed. The airplane struck trees before impacting a swamp. The airplane remained in the swamp for approximately three months before the pilot was able to make arrangements to have the wreckage removed. Postaccident investigation revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The amount of remaining fuel could not accurately be determined at the time of examination due to the length of time which the airplane remained in the swamp. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8218R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8218R-1997-03-24), registration cancelled 1997-03-24, S/N 30433 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30 - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30433 - Airframe hours: 1760 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kevin T. Yatso - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,300 total, 20 in this make and model, 1,220 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °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 19940617015639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940617015639A), Jun 17, 1994: Blanca 1730A, Tomahawk, WI, Destroyed. Lost power local flight. Struck trees and swamp. Removed from swamp 3MO later. Unable to determine cause. 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.