# NTSB FTW92LA141: Bellanca 17-30A, N9742E, Graford, TX, May 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1992, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: Graford, TX
- Location: 32.9374° N, 98.2475° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Graford, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9374&lon=-98.2475&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18503
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18503/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA141

## Probable cause

LOOSE JAM NUT ON THROTTLE CABLE. FACTORS WERE INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND WATER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear not retracted, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - throttle/power lever,linkage - loose (cause)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command(cfi)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE SECOND PILOT (OWNER/OPERATOR) AND INSTRUMENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DEPARTED A LAKE RESORT AIRPORT DURING VFR CONDITIONS ON WHAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN A DUAL INSTRUCTION CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. DURING THE VFR INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB THE LANDING GEAR DID NOT RETRACT. THE SECOND PILOT WHO WAS THE MANIPULATOR OF THE CONTROLS MADE A VFR ENTRY FOR A LEFT DOWNWIND LANDING AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. ABEAM THE RUNWAY NUMBERS THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT MAINTAINING ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR MANIPULATED THE CONTROLS AND MADE AN EMERGENCY FORCED LANDING INTO THE WATER. DURING RECOVERY OF THE AIRPLANE IT WAS NOTED THAT THE JAM NUT ON THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS LOOSE AND THE TACHOMETER DRIVE CABLE RING NUT WAS LOOSE. FOLLOWING THE RECOVERY AND SECURING OF THE JAM NUT AND RING NUT, AN ENGINE TEST RUN THROUGHOUT THE POWER RANGES WAS CONDUCTED WITHOUT ANOMALIES. THE AIRPLANE RECORDS AND TACHOMETER INDICATED 15.76 HOURS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE GEAR MICROSWITCH TESTED SATISFACTORY. WATER IN THE GEAR MOTOR AND POWERPACK PREVENTED TESTING OF THE GEAR RETRACTION SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9742E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9742E-1995-08-16), registration cancelled 1995-08-16, S/N 7830882 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 78-30882
- Airframe hours: 1573
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K1 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Johnson, Kenneth D.
- Registered owner: Johnson, Kenneth D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 13, 1992, 16 hours before
- Departed: F35, GRAFORD, TX
- Destination: DAL, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,264 total, 12 in this make and model, 2,063 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MWL, 22 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 19920526015939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920526015939A), May 26, 1992: Blanca 1730A, Graford, TX, Substantial damage. Loose throttle jam nut caused disconnect and power to idle. Force landed in lake short of airport trying to return.

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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