# NTSB FTW85LA242: Bellanca 17-30A, N39854, El Paso, TX, June 2, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1985, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Coordinates: 31.80043, -106.359024 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8004&lon=-106.3590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21765
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21765/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA242

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, takeoff - initial climb
  - exhaust system,muffler - deteriorated (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - exhaust system,muffler - failure,total (cause)
  - exhaust system - leak (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - burned (cause)
  - ignition system,magneto - inoperative (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PLT FIRST SMELLED, THEN OBSERVED SMOKE COMING INTO THE COCKPIT FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENG QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA OFF THE RWY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT & THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE MUFFLER ON THE LEFT SIDE, WHICH HAD BEEN OVERHAULED & INSTALLED ON 7/25/83, HAD FAILED NEAR THE OUTLET, ALLOWING HOT EXHAUST GASES TO ENTER THE ENG COMPARTMENT & BURN A WIRE BUNDLE CONTAINING THE MAGNETO WIRING (P-LEADS). A LARGE SECTION WAS MISSING FROM THE REAR HALF OF THE MUFFLER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39854 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30483
- Airframe hours: 1104
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mike Haynes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 1984, 47 hours before
- Destination: ALM, ALAMOGORDO, NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ELP, El Paso Intl, runway 26L, 9,008 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 174 total, 15 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP

## 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 19850602021939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850602021939A), Jun 2, 1985: Blanca 1730A, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. Smoke in cockpit and engine quit on takeoff. Struck an embankment, gear collapsed. Muffler failed, p leads burned.

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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