# NTSB LAX95LA202: Bellanca 8KCAB, N5540K, Mission Viejo, CA, June 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 1995, 17:20 local (Jun 5, 1995, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Mission Viejo, CA - Coordinates: 33.600063, -117.639137 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6001&lon=-117.6391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29109/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA202 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power due to the failure of company maintenance personnel to correctly connect the throttle arm and throttle linkage during engine installation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - throttle/power lever,linkage - disconnected (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - vehicle ## Analysis THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND THE STUDENT WERE DOING AEROBATICS IN A PRACTICE AREA WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE CFI DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, AND LANDED ON A PAVED ROAD. DURING THE GROUND ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH AN AUTOMOBILE. A FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE ARM. THE BOLT WAS FOUND IN THE THROTTLE ARM HOLE; HOWEVER, THE REQUIRED CASTELLATED NUT AND A COTTER PIN WERE MISSING FROM THE BOLT. THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED THAT PRIOR TO MAY 16, 1995, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED A PROPELLER STRIKE AND THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FOR DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION. THE ENGINE WAS REINSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT 12 DAYS, OR 7 FLIGHT HOURS, PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 1995, at 1720 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N5540K, lost engine power, landed on a highway, and collided with an automobile. The airplane was being operated by Orange County Flight Center, Santa Ana, California, as an aerobatic instructional flight. The local flight originated from the John Wayne-Orange County Airport, Santa Ana, California, at 1615 hours. The airplane was substantially damaged. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and certificated commercial pilot student were not injured. The two occupants of the automobile sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the local flight. According to the flight instructor, the airplane lost power while performing aerobatic maneuvers at 3,500 feet. The flight instructor initiated a forced landing on a paved road in Mission Viejo, California. During the landing ground roll, the airplane collided with an automobile driving on the road. After recovery from the accident site, the airplane was checked by an airframe and powerplant mechanic. According to the mechanic, no discrepancies were found with the airframe. Examination of the engine compartment revealed that the throttle linkage was disconnected from the carburetor throttle arm. The bolt was found in the throttle arm hole; however, the required castellated nut and a cotter pin were missing from the bolt. A Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Safety Inspector from the Long Beach Flight Standards District Office, Long Beach, California, examined the aircraft and reported the same findings as the mechanic. The aircraft maintenance records indicated that prior to May 16, 1995, the aircraft sustained a propeller strike and the engine was removed for disassembly and inspection. The engine was installed on May 22, 1995, following reassembly. The last annual inspection was performed on April 26, 1994. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5540K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5540K), registered now, S/N 394-78, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 394-78 - Airframe hours: 3296 - Engines: LYCOMING AE10-320-E1B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Orange County Flight Center - Registered owner: American Airplane Exchange Cor - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 22, 1995, 7 hours before - Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,383 total, 27 in this make and model, 1,237 as pilot in command, 314 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SNA, 14 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 19950604018079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950604018079A), Jun 4, 1995: Bbavia 8KCAB, Mission Viejo, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power hit auto landing on road. Throttle linkage came apart. Engine installed 5HRS prior. Control not saftied. 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.