# NTSB DEN08LA095: Downer Bellanca 14-19-3, N7640E, N. Little Rock, AR, May 23, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2008, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: N. Little Rock, AR - Coordinates: 34.833057, -92.25389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8331&lon=-92.2539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68106/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA095 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to the incorrect and improper installation of throttle and mixture cables by unknown maintenance personnel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: mixture control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md?model=3080116), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=3080116), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=3080116), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=3080116), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3080116), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3080116), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3080116), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to the flight, the airplane's fuel tanks were topped off with fuel, and the airplane pre-flight was normal. During initial takeoff climb approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot retracted the landing gear and the engine lost power. Prior to the loss of engine power, the pilot did not hear a bang, sputter, or any indication of an engine problem. The pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, the restart was unsuccessful. The pilot initiated a forced landing and tried to land on the remaining runway surface. The airplane touched down off the runway surface, impacted terrain, and came to rest upright. Examination of the airframe and engine showed that the mixture and throttle cables were routed incorrectly, and the two cables were longer than the original cables. The original drawings showed that the cables exited the firewall and were routed up to the center cylinders and looped back to the fuel control unit. The accident airplane cables exited the firewall and were routed up to the forward cylinders (in proximity of the nose landing gear retraction assembly), and then looped back 180 degrees to the fuel control unit. The fuel control unit was mounted under and aft of the engine. The inspector noted contact with the mixture cable and the nose landing gear retraction assembly. During the landing gear retraction, the mixture cable was snagged by the gear retraction mechanism and disrupted the fuel system which resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2008, at 1640 central daylight time, a Downer Bellanca 14-19-3 single-engine airplane, N7640E, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff from the North Little Rock Municipal Airport, North Little Rock, Arkansas. The private pilot and four passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. Prior to the flight, the airplane's fuel tanks were topped off with fuel, and the airplane pre-flight was normal. During initial takeoff climb approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot retracted the landing gear and the engine lost power. Prior to the loss of engine power, the pilot did not hear a bang, sputter, or any indication of an engine problem. The pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, the restart was unsuccessful. The pilot initiated a forced landing and tried to land on the remaining runway surface. The airplane touched down off the runway surface, impacted terrain, and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane showed the wing spars were damaged and the main landing gear penetrated the top wing skins. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors performed a detailed inspection of the airframe and engine. Per the original aircraft drawings, the inspectors noted that the mixture and throttle cables were routed incorrectly, and the two cables were longer than the original cables. The original drawings showed that the cables exited the firewall and were routed up to the center cylinders and looped back to the fuel control unit. The accident airplane cables exited the firewall and were routed up to the forward cylinders (in proximity of the nose landing gear retraction assembly), and then looped back 180 degrees to the fuel control unit. The fuel control unit was mounted under and aft of the engine. The inspector noted contact with the mixture cable and the nose landing gear retraction assembly. The pilot stated that the airplane underwent an annual inspection in November 2007. The aircraft logbooks were not located. In the days prior to the accident, the pilot experienced "engine roughness." The local mechanic stated he replaced the sparks plugs as a corrective action, and no additional maintenance was performed. After the sparks plugs were replaced, a engine run-up was performed with no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7640E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7640E-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N 4142, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Downer Bellanca 14-19-3 - Registry model: [Downer BELLANCA 14-19-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/downer-bellanca-14-19-3) (registry code 3080116) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4143 - Engines: Continental IO-470F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Luther O. Sutter - Registered owner: Pfeifer Sutter Family LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ORK, N. Little Rock, AR - Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Airport: KORK, North Little Rock, AR, runway 05, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: LIT, 5 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 20080523839049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080523839049A), May 23, 2008: Blanca 14193, North Little R, AR, Substantial damage. (-23)On may 23, 2008, at 16:30 CDT, Bellanca BL-14-19-3, N7640E, shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 200' AGL, lost all engine power and… 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.