# NTSB LAX97LA134: Bellanca 14-13, N86851, Oroville, CA, March 28, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 27, 1997, 18:25 local (Mar 28, 1997, 02:25 UTC) - Place: Oroville, CA - Coordinates: 39.500778, -121.670143 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5008&lon=-121.6701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 14, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29752/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA134 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to connecting rod bolt failure. The reason for the bolt failure was not determined. A contributing factor was the presence of trees in the emergency landing path. ## 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, cruise - normal - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - failure (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis While cruising at 3,500 feet mean sea level, the engine suddenly began knocking and vibrating. Moments later, all engine power was lost. The pilot initiated a forced landing on a nearby road, but during the approach collided with a tree. An inspection of the engine revealed several holes in the upper portion of the case in the vicinity of the number 6 cylinder. Further examination revealed that both of the number 6 connecting rod bolts were broken and the rod cap was crushed and fragmented. The owner reported that the rod bolts had been in service for about 1,185 hours. The engine's total time was about 2,350 hours. ## Factual narrative On March 27, 1997, at 1825 hours Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 14-13, N86851, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced a loss of engine power while cruising at 3,500 feet mean sea level near Oroville, California. According to the pilot, the sequence of events started when his "perfect running engine" suddenly began knocking and vibrating. Moments later, all engine power was lost. The commercial pilot attempted to land on a nearby road. During the approach the airplane collided with a tree, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Redding, California, at 1750. The pilot and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator inspected the airplane, manufactured in 1946, and the Franklin engine. The FAA reported observing several holes in the upper portion of the engine case in the vicinity of the number 6 cylinder. The largest hole was about 0.75 inches wide by 2.0 inches long. The FAA reported it appeared as though something was trying to get out from inside the engine. An additional examination of the engine revealed that both of the number 6 connecting rod bolts were broken and the rod cap was crushed and fragmented. According to the owner, the rod bolts had been in service for about 1,185 hours. The engine's total time was about 2,350 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86851](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86851), registered now, S/N 1213, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 14-13 - Registry model: [Bellanca 14-13](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-14-13) (registry code 1201002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1213 - Airframe hours: 2345 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas W. Cross - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1997, 6 hours before - Departed: RDD, REDDING, CA - Destination: AUN, ATWATER, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,405 total, 1,550 in this make and model, 2,345 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19970327047869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970327047869A), Mar 27, 1997: Blanca 1413, Oroville, CA, Substantial damage. (-16) Aircraft made a forced landing on forbes town road 20 miles east of Oroville after engine reportedly quit. Substantial damage. No injury to sole occupant. 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.