# NTSB CHI94LA249: Bellanca 17-30, N93572, Waterford, MI, July 29, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 1994, 09:21 local (14:21 UTC) - Place: Waterford, MI - Coordinates: 42.640495, -83.409996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6405&lon=-83.4100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9612 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9612/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA249 ## Probable cause undetermined. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis ON INITIAL VFR CLIMBOUT THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH THEN LOST POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE DESCENT HE ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS BUT DOES NOT REMEMBER HIS EXACT PROCEDURES. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN A LAKE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE SET TO AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS, AND ONLY A FEW TEASPOONS OF FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES BETWEEN THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND THE FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLES. ALL ACCESSORIES OPERATED NORMALLY AND THE ENGINE RAN ON A TEST STAND. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 1994, at 0921 hours central daylight time, a Bellanca BL-17-30, N93572, operated as a personal aircraft by Wooden Airplane Company of Southfield, Michigan, impacted water in a lake in Waterford, Michigan. The airplane was substantially damaged, the private pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The airplane was departing on an instrument flight plan to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and impacted one half mile west of the departure end of runway 27R from Oakland-Pontiac Airport, Pontiac, Michigan. The pilot reported that during the initial climbout the engine began to run rough and lost power. He reported attempting to switch fuel tanks, but could not remember his exact actions. The impact ruptured both wing fuel cells. The fuel lines to the engine remained intact. Postaccident examination revealed less than 1 ounce of fuel in the fuel lines from the selector valve to the strainer, and the strainer to the engine driven and electric pumps. An internal examination of the fuel selector valve revealed that the port from the right tank was half open. Both pumps were bench operated and discharged fuel once primed. Inspection of the magnetos, plugs, and induction system revealed no discrepancies. The propeller was pulled through and the accessories turned with no binding. The engine was run on a test stand with normal magneto checks and the propeller responded normally to the pitch control. The engine was run up to 1600 RPM with no anomalies. At that point acceleration was stopped due to vibration from bent propeller blades. Shut down was normal using the mixture control. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93572](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93572-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 74-30692, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30 - 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: 74-30692 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wooden Airplane Company - Registered owner: Wooden Airplane Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1993 - Departed: PTK, PONTIAC, MI - Destination: OSH, OSHKOSH, WI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PTK, Oakland-Pontiac Airport, runway 27R, 6,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 956 total, 130 in this make and model, 745 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PTK, 1 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 19940729019919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940729019919A), Jul 29, 1994: Blanca 1730A, Pontiac, MI, Substantial damage. Rough engine powerloss on climbout force landed in a lake. Fuel selector found between idents. No fuel in lines. 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.