MIA07CA015

NTSB accident investigation · Bellanca BL-17-30 · Lantana, FL · November 13, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
November 13, 2006, 11:02 local (16:02 UTC)
Place
Lantana, FL
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6663VBellanca BL-17-30
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 26, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20061113023779A
Case key
64873

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's improper preflight planning/decision which resulted in total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Preflight planning/preparation - improperPilot in commandCause
Fluid,fuel - exhaustion
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with objectEmergency descent/landing
Object - tree(s)
Object - residence
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The pilot stated that about 3/4 mile on final approach the engine ceased operating. After switching fuel tanks he said he tried to restart the engine, but the engine would not restart. He said he focused on flying the airplane, and as the airplane descended it impacted "trees, power lines, and left a wheel in the roof of a house." An FAA inspector responded to the scene of the accident and performed a detailed examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, no anomalies were noted with the airplane's fuel, electrical and induction systems, and about 6 to 8 ounces of auto fuel was found in the right fuel tank. No additional fuel was found in the airplane, or at the accident scene. In addition, the inspector stated that the airplane did not have a supplemental type certificate to permit the use of automobile fuel, and that the airplane had last received an annual inspection on January 1, 1984. The inspector also stated that the pilot, who was not an FAA certificated mechanic, stated that he performed all of the maintenance on the airplane. The pilot stated that he last completed a flight review in 1996. In addition, the pilot's last medical examination was dated June 23, 1996, and a review of FAA records showed that his license was suspended on November 8, 1996.

Factual narrative

On November 13, 2006, about 1102 eastern standard time, an unregistered Bellanca BL-17-30 airplane, N6663V, owned and piloted by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in Lantana, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The non-rated pilot received minor injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Palm Beach County Park Airport, Lantana, Florida, the same day, about 1030.

The pilot stated that after his preflight inspection he performed a takeoff and full stop landing on runway 33. He further stated that he then taxied to the threshold of runway 33 and took off again. He said that he climbed to 800 feet, and turned west, and after about 5 miles he turned around and headed east. He said he entered the traffic pattern for runway 33, flew downwind, base, and final, and after flying about 3/4 mile on final approach the engine ceased operating. After switching tanks he said he tried to restart the engine, but the engine would not restart. He said he focused on flying the airplane, and as the airplane descended it impacted "trees, power lines, and left a wheel in the roof of a house."

An FAA inspector responded to the scene of the accident and performed a detailed examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, no anomalies were noted with the airplanes fuel, electrical and induction systems, and about 6 to 8 ounces of auto fuel was found in the right fuel tank. No additional fuel was found in the airplane, or at the accident scene. . In addition, the inspector stated that the airplane did not have a supplemental type certificate to permit the use of automobile fuel, and that the airplane had last received an annual inspection on January 1, 1984. The inspector also stated that the pilot, who was not an FAA certificated mechanic, stated that he performed all his own maintenance on the airplane.

According to the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that he last completed a flight review in 1996. In addition, the pilot's last medical examination was dated June 23, 1996, and a review of FAA records showed that his license was suspended on November 8, 1996.

Aircraft

Registration
N6663V
Reported as
Bellanca BL-17-30
Category
Airplane
Serial number
30040
Airframe hours
2,314
Engine
Continental IO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Allan Roderic Shultz
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 1984 · 484 hours before
Departed
LNA · Lantana, FL
Destination
LNA

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
71
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,000 total · 100 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
0° at 0 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
30.02 inHg
Observed at
PBI

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.