# NTSB ERA24LA112: Bellanca 17-30, N39818, Stevensville, MD, February 7, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 7, 2024, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Stevensville, MD - Coordinates: 38.976262, -76.329082 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9763&lon=-76.3291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193777/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193777 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA112 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while landing with a crosswind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 17-30A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220433), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the approach to runway 29, the airplane was stable, and that the touchdown was “smooth”. The pilot described that the airplane handled as expected in flight and during the approach and that there was a wind from 010 degrees at 8 knots. After touchdown, as he lowered the nosewheel, the airplane made an uncontrolled turn to the left which he attempted to correct with full right rudder and right brake. The airplane struck a runway light before departing the runway and coming to rest in a ditch. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical defects with the rudder system controls or the nosewheel steering system. The nosewheel landing gear upper leg, lower drag strut, and right-hand lower steering rod were displaced and exhibited fractures consistent with overload as a result of impact damage. Based on this information, it is most likely that the pilot’s inadequate compensation for the prevailing crosswind from the right resulted in a loss of control during landing and the subsequent runway excursion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39818](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N39818), registered now, S/N 73-30511, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30 (A) - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 73-30511 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2676 - Engines: Continental Aerospace IO-520-K 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2024, 1 hours before - Departed: N47, Pottstown, PA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: W29, Bay Bridge, runway 29, 2,713 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review January 10, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 2,160 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,672 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.33 inHg - Observed at: KW29, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KW29 071705Z AUTO 34006KT 10SM CLR 06/M04 A3033 RMK AO2 T00571036= ## 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 20240207001189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240207001189A), Feb 7, 2024: Bellanca 17-30A, Stevensville, MD, Substantial damage. Pilot stated, landing was smooth, however, when the aircraft nose gear touched down, the aircraft veered to the left. Pilot input had no effect to correct left… ## Other investigations on N39818 (1) 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 UNK73X0119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK73X0119), Jul 28, 1973: Bellanca 17-30A (N39818), Montego Bay, Jamaica, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193777. 7.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17120496&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA112%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17120040&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA112%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Nose steering examination (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 745 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17120324&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=EA24LA112%20Nose%20Steering%20Examination%20Analysis-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.