# NTSB FTW84FA193: Bellanca 8GCBC, N4167Y, Houston, TX, April 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1984, 18:28 local (Apr 9, 1984, 00:28 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 29.720104, -95.420455 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7201&lon=-95.4205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21113
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA193
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21113/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA193

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, unknown
  - wing,wing rib - previous damage
  - wing,wingtip - previous damage
  - maintenance,major repair - performed, other maintenance personnel
  - maintenance,recordkeeping - not maintained, other maintenance personnel
  - wing - failure,total (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES HEARD THE SOUND OF AN ACFT WITH THE ENG AT HIGH RPM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THEY SAW THE ACFT IN A LEFT SPIN WITH THE ENG REMAINING AT FULL POWER. THE ACFT CONTINUED SPINNING UNTIL IT CRASHED & BURNED. THE WITNESSES NOTICED THAT WHEN THE PLANE WAS DESCENDING ABOUT 3 FT OF THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE LEFT WING HAD FAILED, BUT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE ACFT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE VERIFIED THAT THE LEFT WING TIP HAD FAILED PRIOR TO IMPACT. FIRE DAMAGE WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT THE MODE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE LEFT WING TIP HAD FAILED UPWARD & AFT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN BLOWN INVERTED ON 11/23/83 BY STRONG WINDS. AT THAT TIME, THE LEFT WING TIP WAS BROKEN & A WING RIB WAS CRUSHED; ALSO, THE RUDDER, VERT STABILIZER, PROP & RIGHT WING STRUT WERE DAMAGED. NO ENTRIES HAD BEEN MADE IN THE ACFT LOGBOOKS SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 8/15/83. THE EXTENT OF THE REPAIRS FROM THE WIND DAMAGE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4167Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 239-77
- Airframe hours: 1621
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C2E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Houston Soaring Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 1983, 30 hours before
- Departed: HOUSTON, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,484 total, 161 in this make and model, 1,079 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAH, 33 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 19840408008749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840408008749A), Apr 8, 1984: Bbavia 8GCBC, Houston, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Left wing tip failed up and aft during aerobatic manuvers. Previous damage had occurred to left wing not in log.

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.

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