# NTSB MIA87LA010: Buhl LA-1, N320Y, Belleview, FL, October 16, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1986, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Belleview, FL
- Location: 29.0926° N, 82.0320° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LEEWARD AIR RANCH (FD04), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0926&lon=-82.0320&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31812
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31812/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA010

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - roll
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD REACHED AN ALT OF ABOUT 50 FT WHEN THE ENG QUIT. HE STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, HE STOPPED FLYING THE ACFT & PERMITTED A HIGH SINK RATE TO DEVELOP WHICH WAS NOT ARRESTED PRIOR TO THE ACFT HITTING THE RWY IN A HARD LANDING. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT STATED THAT THE ACFT HELD ABOUT 10 GALS OF FUEL & THAT ONLY ABOUT 2 GALS WERE IN THE ACFT AT TAKEOFF. HE STATED THE PLT PULLED THE ACFT UP VERY STEEPLY AFTER TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION DUE TO FUEL 'UNPORTING'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N320Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N320Y), registered now, S/N 108, built 1931 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUHL LA-1
- Registry model: [Buhl LA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/buhl-la-1) (registry code 1651002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 108
- Airframe hours: 996
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert H. Fergus
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1985, 24 hours before
- Airport: FD04, Leeward, runway 36, 6,200 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,816 total, 21 in this make and model, 1,689 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GNV, 50 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 19861016079339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861016079339A), Oct 16, 1986: Buhl LA1, Belleview, FL, Substantial damage. The aircraft landed hard after the engine lost power on takeoff. The pilot pulled up steeply which cut off fuel flow

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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