# NTSB CHI97LA241: Bellanca 17-30A, N8237R, Eagle, MI, August 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 1997, 20:45 local (Aug 2, 1997, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Eagle, MI - Coordinates: 42.800529, -84.789642 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8005&lon=-84.7896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10657/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA241 ## Probable cause the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, his decision to switch fuel tanks too late, and fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The pilot said that he had departed with a main fuel tank selected to feed the engine. Once the airplane got above '4,500 feet,' the pilot switched to an auxiliary fuel tank. 'Fuel usage was timed using a countdown clock for each tank. Approaching Lansing, [Michigan] I requested and got flight following to Detroit. A few minutes later, my fuel countdown clock signaled time for a fuel cell change.' The pilot switched to a full tank. At that time, the engine lost power. The pilot switched to another full tank, but the engine wound not start. 'I told Lansing Approach of my problem; they gave me the direction to the nearest airport, and I did the Bellanca Viking restart procedure. The plane would not restart.' The pilot declared an emergency and force landed the airplane in a cornfield. Examination of the wreckage revealed that one of the airplane's five fuel tanks was empty. The remaining fuel tanks were full of fuel. No other anomalies were revealed with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 1997, at 2045 eastern daylight time (edt), a Bellanca 17-30A, N8237R, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during cruise flight, the airplane's engine lost power. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane impacted the terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at 1800 central daylight time (cdt), and was en route to Detroit, Michigan. In his written statement, the pilot said that he had departed with a main fuel tank selected to feed the engine. Once the airplane got above "4,500 feet," the pilot switched to an auxiliary fuel tank. "Fuel usage was timed using a countdown clock for each tank. Approaching Lansing, [Michigan] I requested and got flight following to Detroit. A few minutes later, my fuel countdown clock signaled time for a fuel cell change." The pilot switched to a full tank. At that time, the engine lost power. The pilot switched to another full tank, but the engine would not start. "I told Lansing Approach of my problem; they gave me the direction to the nearest airport, and I did the Bellanca Viking restart procedure. The plane would not restart." The pilot declared an emergency and force landed the airplane in a cornfield. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage found the airplane's engine and cowling bent upward and aft. The nose gear was separated from the airplane. The engine mounts were bent upward and aft. There was a large gouge in the leading edge of the left wing running aft to the forward spar. The left wing spar was bent aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. One of the airplane's five fuel tanks was empty. The remaining fuel tanks were full of fuel. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8237R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8237R-2013-05-14), registration cancelled 2013-05-14, S/N 30473, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 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: 30473 - Airframe hours: 4145 - Engines: Continental IO-520-K 260 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jug Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1997, 63 hours before - Departed: OSH, OSHKOSH, WI - Destination: DET, DETROIT, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 448 total, 172 in this make and model, 387 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAN, 10 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 19970802020529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970802020529A), Aug 2, 1997: Blanca 1730A, Eagle, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft experienced a powerloss and made emergency landing in a field. (.4)the pilot said that he had departed with a main fuel tank selected to feed the… 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.