# NTSB DEN04LA113: Bellanca 14-19-3A, N1251R, Estes Park, CO, July 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2004, 08:25 local (14:25 UTC) - Place: Estes Park, CO - Coordinates: 40.370861, -105.520652 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3709&lon=-105.5207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59820 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59820/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA113 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the unsuitable terrain for landing and the mailbox posts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - pole (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said he had just leveled off at his initial cruising altitude of 10,500 feet msl when the engine "sputtered a little bit." He enriched the mixture and the engine "ran fine for approximately five seconds, then quit." Despite remedial action, the pilot was unable to restore engine power. He squawked 7700 on the transponder and transmitted a mayday call on the emergency radio frequency, then made a forced landing on a road. During the landing roll, the left wing struck several mail box posts, crushing the outboard portion of the left wing leading edge. The engine was later functionally tested. No anomalies were noted. Pressurizing each wing tank fuel supply line revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2004, at 0825 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 14-19-3A, N1251R, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck mailboxes during landing roll after a forced landing on a road near Estes Park, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The flight originated from Broomfield, Colorado (BJC), at 0809, and was en route to Rawlins, Wyoming (RWL). According to the pilot's accident report, he had just leveled off at his initial cruising altitude of 10,500 feet msl when the engine "sputtered a little bit." He enriched the mixture and the engine "ran fine for approximately five seconds, then quit." Despite remedial action, the pilot was unable to restore engine power. He squawked 7700 on the transponder and transmitted a mayday call on the emergency radio frequency, then made a forced landing on Colorado Highway 7, about 5 miles south of Estes Park. During the landing roll, the left wing struck several mail box posts, crushing the outboard portion of the left wing leading edge. On September 15, 2004, the engine, a Continental IO-470-F (s/n CS-135710-7-F, rated at 260 hp at 2625 rpm), was functionally tested at Beegles Aircraft Service in Greeley, Colorado. During retrieval, both wings were removed. The auxiliary tank had to be used for fuel supply. In addition, the fuel pump was removed from the left wing root and used to pressurize the fuel. The engine started readily. There was reluctance to run the engine higher than 1,300 rpm and 12.5 inches of manifold pressure (MAP) due to the anchoring of the airplane on a trailer. This power setting yielded 5.8 gph. Magneto checks resulted in a 100 rpm drop for each magneto. Air was blown into each wing tank fuel supply line and was felt escaping from the vents. No obstructions were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1251R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1251R-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N 4340, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 14-19-3A - Registry model: [Bellanca 14-19-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-14-19-3) (registry code 3080106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4340 - Airframe hours: 3920 - Engines: Continental IO-470-F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2003, 104 hours before - Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO - Destination: RWL, Rawlins, WY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 6, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,153 total, 994 in this make and model, 1,078 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 35 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 43 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 20040731017099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040731017099A), Jul 31, 2004: Blanca 14193, Estes Park, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Upon reaching cruise altitude the pilot started to lean the engine, at this point it started to sputter, he moved the mixture control toward rich and 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.