# NTSB LAX85LA324: Bellanca 17-30, N7305V, San Andreas, CA, July 20, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1985, 12:33 local (19:33 UTC)
- Place: San Andreas, CA
- Coordinates: 38.200149, -120.619102 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2001&lon=-120.6191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24777
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA324
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24777/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA324

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fuel system - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command
  - remedial action - not attained
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A 2 HR FLT WITH ABOUT 6 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE FLT, HE REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE MADE A VERY SHALLOW TURN TO THE RIGHT, NEAR HIS DESTINATION, THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST POWER. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG BY SWITCHING THE FUEL SELECTOR TO VARIOUS POSITIONS, BUT POWER WAS NOT RESTORED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE NEAREST ARPT, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LANDED THE ACFT IN A FIELD WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ENG. APRX 37 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FOUR FUEL TANKS. THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY, BUT FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE OTHER TANKS. ONE TANK WAS VIRTUALLY FULL; ONE WAS ABOUT 1/2 FULL; THE OTHER WAS ABOUT 10% FULL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7305V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7305V-1990-08-14), registration cancelled 1990-08-14, S/N 30172 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30) (registry code 1220432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30172
- Airframe hours: 500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Viking, Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, February 26, 1985, 40 hours before
- Departed: WHP, PACOIMA, CA
- Destination: 022, COLUMBIA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 230 total, 89 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19850720032949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850720032949A), Jul 20, 1985: Blanca 1730, San Andreas, CA, Substantial damage. Unable to restart engine after one fuel tank ran dry. Landed gear up in a field. Improper restart procedure used.

## Other investigations on N7305V (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX70FUQ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70FUQ05), Jan 25, 1970: Downer 17-30 (N7305V), Van Nuys, CA, destroyed

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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