# NTSB GAA18CA465: Bellanca 8GCBC, N391KM, El Dorado, AR, July 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2018, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: El Dorado, AR - Coordinates: 33.221111, -92.811668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2211&lon=-92.8117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97974 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA465 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97974/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97974 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA465 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [After landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the return to the departure airport following a local flight, the engine lost all power. Subsequently, he conducted a forced landing on a dirt road, during which the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane then nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that only 1 gallon of fuel was recovered from both wing tanks. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the return to the departure airport following a local flight, the airplane had a total loss of engine power. He force landed the airplane on a dirt road, but the propeller struck the ground and airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector confirmed that only one gallon of fuel was drained and recovered from both wing tanks. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N391KM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N391KM-2019-05-21), registration cancelled 2019-05-21, S/N 182-75 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c2a) (registry code 42285, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 182-75 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Blues Air Llc - Registered owner: Blues Air Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: El Dorado, AR - Destination: El Dorado, AR - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KELD ## 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 20180727018169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180727018169A), Jul 27, 2018: Bellanca 8GCBC, El Dorado, AR, Substantial damage. On July 27, 2017 at approximately 1245 CDT, N391KM a Bellanca 8GCBC (scout) airplane, registered to blues air, LLC and operated by a two commercial pilots,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97974. 184 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.