- Date
- May 9, 1982, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Walsh, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4050BBellanca 17-31ATC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820509016219A
- Case key
- 72951
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during takeoff, the engine lost power at about 75 ft AGL. While making a forced landing, the aircraft struck large pipes that were laying on the ground. An investigation revealed the engine would run satisfactorly as long as the electric boost pump was on. When the boost pump was turned off, the engine would cease to operate. The engine driven fuel pump (titan, model G6, sn: 575587W) would not provide sufficient fuel pressure to sustain engine operation. An examination revealed the seals and bearings were worn. No records or history of the pump could be found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4050B
- Reported as
- Bellanca 17-31ATC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31101
- Airframe hours
- 1,416
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540KIE5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Lawrence L. Bitner
- Registered owner
- Lawrence L. Bitner
- Departed
- OKO · Walsh, CO
- Destination
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Airport
- OKO · Griffin, runway 17, 3,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Invalid Medical for flight
- Flight hours
- 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 20 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 167 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.