# NTSB ERA20LA194: Bellanca 8KCAB, N68555, Rainbow City, AL, May 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 21, 2020, 19:12 local (May 22, 2020, 00:12 UTC) - Place: Rainbow City, AL - Coordinates: 33.882221, -86.072776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8822&lon=-86.0728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101320 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101320/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101320 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA194 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/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. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the flight back to the departure airport after practicing aerobatic maneuvers, the engine started to "cut off and on." The pilot decided to make an emergency landing in a field. The airplane impacted trees, and the landing gear and both wings were buckled. The wreckage examination found that both fuel tanks were breached and absent of fuel. The airplane was recovered from the accident site, and an engine test run was conducted. Prior to the test run, all fuel lines leading to the fuel pumps and fuel servo were examined. The mechanical and electrical fuel pumps were checked, and no anomalies were noted. An external fuel tank was plumbed to the mechanical pump for the test run. The fuel-injected engine was started and run for 2 to 3 minutes at various rpms, and no anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 2020, about 1912 central daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N68555, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rainbow City, Alabama. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he was practicing aerobatic maneuvers and when finished, he headed back to the departure airport. During the flight back to the airport the engine started to "cut off and on." Although the engine continued to run, it got worse, and the pilot made the decision to make an emergency landing in a field. After touchdown the pilot was unable to stop the airplane in time to avoid an approaching tree line. The airplane impacted trees and came to a stop. The engine was still running after the impact, and the landing gear and both wings were buckled. The wreckage was examined at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. Both fuel tanks were breached and absent of fuel. The airplane was recovered from the accident site for an engine test run attempt. Prior to the test run, all fuel lines leading to the fuel pumps and fuel servo were examined. All of the fuel lines contained trace amounts of fuel and no debris was observed within them. The mechanical and electrical fuel pumps were checked, and no anomalies were noted. An external fuel tank was plumbed to the mechanical pump for the test run. The fuel-injected engine was started and run for 2 to 3 minutes at various rpms; and no anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68555](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68555-2023-05-27), registration cancelled 2023-05-27, S/N 23-72, 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: 23-72 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2475 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E1A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2020 - Departed: GAD, Gadsden, AL - Destination: GAD, Gadsden, AL - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 438 total, 65 in this make and model, 377 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: GAD, 6 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 20200521007429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200521007429A), May 21, 2020: Bellanca 8KCAB, Rainbow City, AL, Substantial damage. Engine lost power in cruise flight. Pilot was unable to maintain altitude, electing to execute an off airport emergency landing. Pilot intenionally stayed high… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101320. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9796221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20CA194_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record FAA correspondence (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9796112&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20email%20correspondence%20CA194-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9796053&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N68555%20FAA%20INSPECTOR%20STATEMENT%201-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9795859&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CA194-Rel.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.