# NTSB ERA14LA178: Bellanca 8KCAB, N11FS, Bay St Louis, MS, March 30, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 2014, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Bay St Louis, MS - Coordinates: 30.367776, -89.454719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3678&lon=-89.4547&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88990 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88990/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88990 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA178 ## Probable cause A sudden fuel leak, which resulted in a postlanding fire; the origin of the leak could not be determined due to fire damage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after the airplane lifted off after several touch-and-go landings, he suddenly smelled fuel and observed streaming fuel. The fuel appeared to come from the fuel system header tank area and streamed onto the cockpit floor between his feet. He landed the airplane straight ahead and taxied clear of the active runway. The airplane caught fire, and the pilot exited through the cockpit door. Within a minute, the airplane was engulfed in flames. Airport rescue personnel responded and extinguished the fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that almost all of the fuel lines going to or coming from the header tank were completely burned away. Two sections of fuel and vent lines remained attached to the header tank and were examined; no evidence of pre-existing fatigue or cracking was observed. According to the pilot, who was also the owner, no recent maintenance had been performed in the area of the header tank. It is likely that a sudden leak occurred at a line to or from the header tank; however, the fire destroyed all evidence of its origin. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2014, about 1415 central daylight time (CDT), a Bellanca 8KCAB, N11FS, caught fire after landing at Stennis International Airport (HSA), Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The private pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated by the pilot. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Gulfport, Mississippi (MS82) about 1315. The pilot reported the following. He was flying in the local traffic pattern at HSA and performing touch-and-go landings on runway 18. After the 14th touch-and-go landing, he climbed straight ahead over the runway. About 200 feet above the ground, he suddenly smelled fuel fumes, and observed fuel streaming onto the cockpit floor, between his feet. The fuel stream appeared to originate from the header tank. He turned off the magnetos and electrical master switch and landed straight ahead on the runway. He taxied clear of the runway and observed fire. He exited through the cockpit door and, within about a minute, the airplane was engulfed in flames. Airport rescue fire fighter personnel responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. On March 31, 2014, an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. He reported that the right wing was totally destroyed by the fire. The airplane was equipped with a header tank in the fuel system. All lines to and from the header tank were completely or partially burned away. The tank has numerous holes which appeared to have resulted from the fire and heat. On April 8, 2014, the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) traveled to the hangar where the wreckage was stored and examined the wreckage. The purpose of the examination was to look for potential sources of a fuel leak. With the pilot present, the header tank was removed from the airframe and examined. The tank sustained significant heat and fire damage and numerous holes in the tank walls were observed. A section of the fuel pickup line (part number 1-10089) and its fitting and a section of a fuel vent line (part number 7-1414-10) and its fitting remained attached to the tank; however, they were damaged from heat and fire. All other fuel lines associated with the header tank were completely burned away. The damaged lines and fittings were removed from the tank and forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, DC for further examination. The fuel lines and fittings that were removed from the header tank were examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory on June 3, 2014. Optical examinations of the two fuel line fractures revealed features consistent with overstress separations while the lines were at elevated temperatures. No indications of fatigue or other preexisting cracking was uncovered. According to the pilot, who was also the airplane owner, no recent maintenance in the area of the header tank had beenperformed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11FS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11FS-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 17-72, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17-72 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 1837 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-320-E1A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Loeding Lawrence E - Registered owner: Loeding Lawrence E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2014, 8 hours before - Departed: HSA, Bay St Louis, MS - Destination: HSA, Bay St Louis, MS - Airport: HSA, Stennis Intl, runway 18, 8,497 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,070 total, 275 in this make and model, 955 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: HSA ## 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 20140330004889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140330004889A), Mar 30, 2014: Bellanca 8KCAB, Bay St Louis, MS, Destroyed. On 3/30/2014 the pilot of N11FS was doing touch and go landings a stennis airport in bay st. Louis, MS (hsa). He was in the process of doing his last touch and… ## Other investigations on N11FS (2) 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. - [NTSB MKC76DCG94](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC76DCG94), Aug 6, 1976: Bellanca 8KCAB (N11FS), Excelsior Spgs, MO, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN73FTE62](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73FTE62), Mar 4, 1973: Champion 7KCAB (N11FS), Boulder, CO, substantial damage ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88990. 10.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector’s Statement (item 2, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%E2%80%99s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Materials Lab Results - Email (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Materials%20Lab%20Results%20-%20Email-Master.PDF - Excerpts – Decathlon Parts Manual (item 4, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20%E2%80%93%20Decathlon%20Parts%20Manual-Master.PDF - NTSB Evidence Control Form (item 5, .PDF, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Evidence%20Control%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Loeding (item 6, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Loeding-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – View of Aircraft, Response by Airport Firefighters (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 7, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Aircraft,%20Response%20by%20Airport%20Firefighters%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Wreckage After Recovery to Hangar (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 8, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Wreckage%20After%20Recovery%20to%20Hangar%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – Fuel System – Header Tank (item 9, .PDF, 843 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Fuel%20System%20%E2%80%93%20Header%20Tank-Master.PDF - Photo 4 – Fuel System – Header Tank with T-Connector (item 10, .PDF, 926 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Fuel%20System%20%E2%80%93%20Header%20Tank%20with%20T-Connector-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Fuel System – Gascolator (item 11, .PDF, 740 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Fuel%20System%20%E2%80%93%20Gascolator-Master.PDF 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.