# NTSB FTW95LA157: Bellanca 17-30A, N6700V, Midland, TX, April 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 1995, 14:16 local (19:16 UTC) - Place: Midland, TX - Location: 31.9425° N, 102.2019° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MIDLAND INTL AIR AND SPACE PORT (MAF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9425&lon=-102.2019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19383 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19383/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA157 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - vasi light/system ## Analysis DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, AT A SPEED OF 60 TO 70 MPH, THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT AND THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A VASI LIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST DUE TO THE 'PIN CONNECTING THE SCISSOR YOKE ON THE NOSE GEAR' COMING OUT DURING TAKEOFF. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO FLY THE PLANE AFTER IT WAS RETURNED TO RENTAL SERVICE FOLLOWING A LANDING GEAR REPAIR. HOWEVER, AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE PLANE HAD BEEN TEST FLOWN TWICE WITH NO DISCREPANCIES REPORTED. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR TORQUE LINKS BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED SIGNATURES INDICATING THAT THE CONNECTING BOLT WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE LINKS WERE DAMAGED DURING IMPACT. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 1995, at 1416 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N6700V, was substantially damaged during takeoff roll at Midland, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned personal cross country flight to Plainview, Texas. Earlier in the day, the pilot had rented the airplane in Plainview, Texas and flown to Midland Airpark, then from Midland Airpark to Midland International Airport. He reported that, during takeoff roll on runway 28 at Midland International Airport, "at approximately 60 to 65 mph the plane lost directional control." According to the passenger, the airplane had reached 70 mph when it started turning to the left. The pilot reduced power and applied full brakes. The airplane exited the left side of the runway where the right wing struck a Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) light box damaging the wing spar and collapsing the right main landing gear and the nose landing gear. The pilot stated that he thought the loss of directional control was due to the "pin connecting the scissor yoke on the nose gear" coming out during the takeoff roll. He further stated that he was the first pilot to fly the plane after it was placed back into rental service following a landing gear repair. However, the plane had been test flown twice after the repair with no discrepancies reported. Statements from the two pilots who conducted the test flights are attached to this report. Examination of the nose gear torque links by a Federal Aviation Adminstration inspector revealed that they were "bent, twisted and deformed in the same manner indicating they were bolted together" when they were damaged. A copy of the Inspector's statement is attached to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6700V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6700V-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 30291, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A - 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: 30291 - Airframe hours: 3440 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Miller Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 1994, 89 hours before - Destination: PVW, PLAINVIEW, TX - Airport: MAF, Midland International, runway 28, 8,302 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 135 total, 60 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MAF ## 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 19950406007479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950406007479A), Apr 6, 1995: Blanca 1730A, Midland, TX, Substantial damage. Swerved on takeoff roll. Aborted. Lost directional control. Struck VASI light. (-19) on April 6, 1995, at 1416 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A,… 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.