# NTSB MIA82DA154: Bellanca 17-31, N7373V, Lake Wales, FL, July 14, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1982, 11:58 local (15:58 UTC)
- Place: Lake Wales, FL
- Coordinates: 27.900896, -81.580451 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9009&lon=-81.5805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 14, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71337
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA82DA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71337/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82DA154

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire/explosion, descent - normal
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A MAINTENANCE FLIGHT TO CHECK A RECENTLY INSTALLED ENGINE OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE. AFTER DETERMINING THAT THE GAUGE WAS OPERATING SATISFACTORILY, THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT TOWARD THE AIRPORT. WHILE DESCENDING THROUGH 3000 FT, THE PILOT OBSERVED WHITE SMOKE IN THE CABIN AND SMELLED FUMES FROM A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE. HE TURNED THE ELECTRICAL MASTER SWITCH OFF, LOWERED THE GEAR MANUALLY AND CONTINUED HIS DESCENT TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT WAS QUICKLY TAXIED OFF THE RUNWAY AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS TURNED OFF. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, FIRE DEVELOPED ON THE LEFT SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE FIREWALL AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY AND DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN HARD TO START AND A HEAVY LOAD HAD BEEN OBSERVED ON THE AMMETER DURING LANDING GEAR CYCLES. DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE, THE CAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL FIRE COULD NOT BE VERIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7373V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7373V-1982-10-08), registration cancelled 1982-10-08, S/N 32-9 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31
- Registry model: [Bellanca 17-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31) (registry code 1220434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-9
- Airframe hours: 1475
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-G1B-5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Carl F. Hinshaw
- Registered owner: Alex J. Bahnson
- Departed: LAKE WALES, FL
- Destination: LAKE WALES, FL
- Airport: Lake Wales Muni, runway 6, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 196 °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 19820714028989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820714028989A), Jul 14, 1982: Blanca 1731, Lake Wales, FL, Destroyed. Aircraft had electrical fire in flight. Pilot landed and exited airplane which was destroyed by fire.

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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